The GbaramatuVoice was established in 2015 as a monthly tabloid published by the Gbaramatu Publishing Company Limited. It hit the newsstand first on August 2015. The newspaper’s sole objective is to bring to public glare what the management saw at the cradle of its formation as information gap and asymmetrical reportage of the activities and people of the Niger Delta.
By Jerome-Mario Utomi In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, a Public institution is an institution conducted with the approval, and from the funds of the public. While explaining that whenever such an institution ceases to have public support, it forfeits its right to exist, Gandhi observed that most institutions maintained on permanent funds are often
By Ebi Perekeme Following last weekend’s election of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), at Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom, Delta State, the Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, insisted that its administration cannot afford to have an acrimonious council. This according to him was responsible for him being neutral during the election. He insisted that rather than
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, has disclosed that the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Kemebradikumo Pondei will no longer appear before it panel probing him the agency’s Interim Management Committee (IMC). Gbajabiamila also directed the panel to use documents he already tendered to the panel to
By Ebi Perekeme The Immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, has congratulated the leadership of the Season Ijaw Youths for a successful quadrennial convention. The former Governor congratulated Mr. Peter Igbifa, who was elected President of the IYC at the just concluded convention at Oporoza, Delta State on Sunday.
President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan. The meeting which started a few minutes after 11am is holding inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. GbaramatuVoice gathered that Jonathan may seize the opportunity of the meeting to brief Buhari on the assignment recently given him by the Economic Community of West African States
BY PIUS UGHAKPOTENI As a participant observer in the Niger Delta project, I am amazed that over the past few weeks an incredibly enormous amount of energy has been expended by various individuals, groups and corporate entities on issues around the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large, with little
The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, collapsed today at the public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC. The Commission wishes to disclose that Prof Pondei has been ill for the past two weeks. This morning, his condition deteriorated, and his doctors advised against attending
Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta affairs, has said that most of the contracts in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were given to national assembly members. He spoke when he appeared before the House of Representatives committee probing the Commission. “We have records to show that most of the contracts at NDDC are given
The Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Prof. Daniel Pondei, has fainted. ALSO READ: BREAKING: NDDC Acting MD, Pondei collapses during committee proceedings The NDDC boss collapsed while being questioned by the House of Representatives Committee about the spending of the commission since he took over. See photos below…
The Acting Chairman of NDDC, Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei has collapsed in the ongoing house committee public hearing on NDDC. Pondei was responding to allegations of 1.5billion financial misappropriation when he suddenly collapsed and couldn’t respond to questions from the chairman of the probe panel. Efforts from another witness to resuscitate him were however effective
By Ebi Perekeme Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently set up a presidential investigative panel to probe grave corruption allegations in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. SERAP, specifically, called for a probe over allegations that the agency illegally spent N81.5 billion, on travels, ‘condolences’, consultancy and ‘public
The much-awaited fifth season of BBNaija themed ‘The Lockdown Edition’ officially kicked off on Sunday, 19th July. Returning host, Ebuka, got the show rolling by taking viewers on a tour of the house before introducing the 20 housemates who will be vying for the N85m grand prize. The housemates are exciting, adventurous, unique, daring and
There is serious Security presence at the National Assembly on Monday, ahead of Senator Godswill Akpabio appearance before the House of Representatives committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). GbaramatuVoice gathered that the committee is probing alleged financial misappropriation at the development agency. Akpabio, who is the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has been accused
Egbema Kingdom in Edo and Delta States Host Communities, on Sunday, demanded 25 per cent equity holding in all marginal oil fields in their land. The communities also threatens to it will not allow new allottees to carry out exploration in the fields if the Federal Government sidelines their interests in the current bid for
By Ben Nanaghan The first ship load of slaves from the Benin Kingdom arrived America over 400 years ago in 1616 and the kingdom harvested richly in Guns, Gun Powder, Gun Canons, Whiskey, Gin, Mirror, Regal Sceptres, Golden Plates and cutleries and of course lots and lots of money for slaves captured and sold. The
By Ebi Perekeme Renowned environmental expert, Engr. Olaye Messiah Doupade, has described the legal Victory of Chief Government Ekpomupolo aka Tompolo at the Lagos High Court as the handiwork of God. Doupade disclosed this to newsmen in Warri, Delta state. In his congratulatory message, he expressed joy to God Almighty even as he thanked the
Governorship aspirants in the All Progressive Congress in Ondo state have expressed concern over the continued silence of the national Secretariat of the party on the mode of primary to be adopted, 48 hours to the election. Addressing newsmen in Akure, one of the aspirants, lfe Oyedele said the eleven aspirants are disturbed about the
Dismissed acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Joy Nunieh, on Thursday, vowed that Nigerians would hear more from the can of worms she’s been opening over her face-off with Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on National Assembly probe on NDDC. Nunieh spoke at the Government House Port Harcourt, Rivers
Ijaw National leader, Chief Edwin Clark and the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, have congratulated Chief Government Tompolo on his acquittal by the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday. The two leaders called on the Federal Government to release all properties seized from Chief Tompolo, his firm
—She is always cooperative, enjoys it – Man says A 47-year-old man, Eromosele Mahmud, has been arrested by the police in Rivers State for allegedly impregnating his 16-year-old daughter after raping her for five years. The suspect, a single parent and father of three from the Esako West Local Government Area of Edo State but
Blessing David, a 19-year-old girl, a member of Marine Girls cult group in Edo State, on Thursday said she slept with 10 men after cult initiation. David, who was initiated into the cult group in 2019, also disclosed that sleeping with men was part of the initiation rituals. The teenager made the disclosure at the
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Wednesday disclosed that the Federal Government and Delta State government had far-reaching discussions towards setting table for dialogue on demands of oil bearing communities and tasked them to be patient. Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Itsekiri and Urhobo bodies, who spoke via their respective spokesmen, Chiefs Godspower Gbenekama, Mike
The people of Ilaje, under the aegis of Concerned Ilaje Coastal Communities Trustees (CICCT) in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to politicize or divert the Gas Revolution Industrial Park Project (GRIP) also known as EPZ from their land. In a communique signed by Prince Abayomi Ogunfemi,
The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have indicted the Niger Delta Development Commission in the investigation of the illegal spending by the commission between January and July 2020, amounting to N81.5bn. The Bureau of Public Procurement also said it did not issue ‘Certificates of No Objection’ to
Former Bayelsa State governor and Minister of Petroleum, Timipre Sylva has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would retain its grip on Edo State in the forthcoming governorship election slated for September. He made the declaration on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen shortly after the inaugural meeting of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of
By Ebi Perekeme Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has walked out on a house of representatives panel investigating the commission. At the meeting of the house committee on NDDC on Thursday, Pondei stormed out of the session after insisting that Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, its chairman, will not preside.
Armed security operatives have surrounded the home of former managing director of the NDDC, Joy Nunieh, in Port Harcourt. Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike is reportedly moving to intervene in the stand-off. It was gathered that the former NDDC boss is due to appear before a House of Representatives Committee in Abuja today. More
Armed security operatives have surrounded the home of former managing director of the NDDC, Joi Nunieh, in Port Harcourt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EURdlzG2Gmg&t=4s
By Ebi Perekeme The Senate on Wednesday, passed the bill for the establishment of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State. The bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Maritime University was sponsored by Senator James Manager, PDP Delta South. The Senate also passed a bill seeking to establish the City University of Technology, Auchi, Edo
Former Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan, has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a special envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali. Jonathan’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, made this known in a statement on Tuesday. ”As a special envoy, the former President is expected to facilitate dialogue
By Ebi Perekeme PAN-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has supported the oil and gas producing communities in Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, Delta State, demanding for development from the Federal Government. The apex socio-cultural organisation of the South-South geo-political zone, National Publicity Secretary of the regional body, Hon Ken Robinson, disclosed this in a statement
The Federal Government on Wednesday opened a fresh bid to select contractors to provide potable water in oil spill impacted Ogoni communities in Rivers State. The Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Marvin Dekil, said at the opening of the bid in Port Harcourt that the Project was an initiative of the UN Environment
By Ebi Perekeme Again, the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the Gbaramatu Kingdom, Itsekiri and Urhobo bodies to embrace peaceful dialogue. Okowa also stated that the constant disagreements and threats across the region had chased away companies and some of the projects they are demanding for now. The governor’s advice is coming
Justice Ibrahim Buba of Federal High Court Lagos has discharged former Niger Delta Ex-Militant Leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, over charges of N45.9bn fraud. Justice Buba upheld the no-case submission filed by Tompolo and others. Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, was the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND),
By Ebi Perekeme The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Election Committee, has released the final list of candidates eligible to participate in the forthcoming triennial elective convention slated for Saturday 18-19 July, 2020 at Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom, Delta State. The list signed by the IYC Eleco Chairman, Barr. Bekewei Ajuwa and Secretary, Amb. Winston Amain, released
