News
Otuaro Credits Tinubu for Expanded PAP Scholarship Agenda
By: Favour Bibaikefie
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has attributed the programme’s increasing deployment of onshore and offshore scholarship beneficiaries to what he described as the strong support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Otuaro made this known on Thursday during a pre-departure orientation held at the PAP headquarters in Abuja for another batch of 25 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries heading to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025/2026 academic year.
The orientation featured sessions on cultural adaptation, academic expectations and scholarship administration, as well as the presentation of laptops to all beneficiaries to support research and thesis work.
According to PAP, the scholars will pursue programmes in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantity surveying and commercial management, cyber security, business analytics, advanced structural engineering, data science, finance and financial technology, international law and security, and public health.
Represented by his Technical Assistant, Edgar Biu, Otuaro said the President’s approval for increased PAP budgetary allocation enabled the programme to expand its scholarship opportunities for both undergraduate and post-graduate studies.
He stated that Tinubu’s “unwavering commitment” has strengthened PAP as an instrument for manpower development in the Niger Delta, noting that this aligns with broader national development goals.
“We are extremely grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his wholesome and strong commitment to this Programme, not only in terms of policy direction but also funding,” Otuaro said.
He noted that the PAP previously “used to run on a low budget annually, but the President graciously approved an increase,” adding that this development has made it possible “to deploy more and more scholarship beneficiaries.”
Otuaro also acknowledged the role of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, whose office provides direct supervision for the PAP, saying Ribadu has “worked tirelessly” with the agency to achieve measurable milestones under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We also appreciate immensely the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, whose supervision this office falls directly under. He has worked tirelessly with us to make sure that this Programme achieves the tangibles and milestones under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Otuaro urged them to remain focused, excel academically and conduct themselves responsibly in their host environment.
“So I urge you to be focused as you embark on this academic journey (to the United Kingdom), a journey that promises so much,” he said. “Make good use of this opportunity to shine and the sky will be the limit for every one of you. When you complete your programme, return home to contribute your quota to the development of the Niger Delta and our country.”
He further reminded the scholars that PAP’s scholarship scheme is not an end in itself but “a pathway to changing the narrative” by building the human capital needed for the Niger Delta’s social, economic and political growth.
By: Divine Perezide
Women under the banner of Rivers Women Unite for SIM (RWUS) began the new year with a display of unity and devotion as they convened at the Ecumenical Worship Center for their monthly meeting, which featured a special Prayer and Thanksgiving Service.
The gathering, which ushered in the year 2026, was centered on the theme: “God Is in Control — I Believe It! Know It! Be at Peace.” The message underscored collective faith, calm, and confidence in divine guidance, setting a reflective tone for the year ahead.
Attendees engaged in worship, thanksgiving, and reaffirmation of shared values as RWUS emphasized spiritual strength, solidarity, and community-building among women in Rivers State.
The event highlighted the group’s continued commitment to fostering unity and moral support among its members, especially at a time when many in the region are seeking renewed direction and purpose for the new year.
Details of the gathering were shared by Ijaw Matters View Point on Facebook, where observers praised the atmosphere of faith and encouragement that characterized the session.
News
GOV OBOREWORI BOOSTS TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH 65 LAND CRUISERS TO STRENGTHEN GRASSROOTS PEACE
By: Divine Perezide
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, has handed over 65 brand new Toyota Land Cruisers to traditional rulers across the state in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots governance, peacebuilding, and rural security coordination.
Presenting the vehicles in Asaba, the state government said the gesture reflects the administration’s recognition of the strategic role traditional institutions play in maintaining social stability, mediating communal disputes, and fostering collaboration between communities and government agencies.
The governor described traditional rulers as indispensable partners in sustaining harmony in rural areas, noting that enhanced mobility would enable quicker engagement with communities, faster response to emerging tensions, and closer cooperation with security operatives.
“This intervention is part of our people-centered leadership approach. It is a deliberate effort to build lasting peace and sustain the achievements of our MORE Agenda,” Governor Oborevwori stated, emphasizing that development thrives only in an atmosphere of peace.
Government officials explained that the vehicles would improve accessibility across difficult terrains, enable traditional leaders to attend to community matters more efficiently, and reinforce the interface between grassroots institutions and the state.
Stakeholders have commended the initiative as timely, especially as many rural communities rely heavily on traditional institutions for conflict resolution, cultural administration, and early warning mechanisms in times of tension.
With the distribution of the Land Cruisers, the Oborevwori administration says it remains committed to deepening rural engagement, strengthening local leadership structures, and advancing its peace-building framework across Delta State.
IduwiniVoice
By: Derick Peretengboro
Port Harcourt, 12 January 2026 — A Reconciliation Committee appointed by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has appealed to political actors in Rivers State to end the ongoing crisis that has deeply affected governance and public confidence in the oil-rich state.
Headed by Chief Godwin Kanu Agabi, SAN, CON, the Committee was inaugurated on 12th January 2026 to “explore ways of bringing the escalating political crisis in Rivers State to an end,” a crisis, the Committee noted, that “has persisted for too long.”
In a statement at the inauguration, Chief Agabi said the Committee was privileged to serve and expressed gratitude to God and PANDEF leadership, particularly Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees, and His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Papapraye Diete Spiff, former Governor of Rivers State and Amayanabo of Twon Brass. The statement described Sir Diete Spiff as “a man whose commitment to the South-South and the nation as a whole has never been in doubt,” adding that “it is the sacrifices of men like him that bequeathed the States of the South-South to the people of that area.”
Highlighting the gravity of the state’s political stand-off, the Committee warned that continuing conflict could erode confidence in the political actors’ commitment to the “interest of the people of Rivers State and of the nation.”
Using a local proverb to caution against self-destructive disputes, the statement urged caution: “Let the parties involved not be as the Clam and the Oyster … The fisherman picked them up, took them home and made a nice fine meal of Clam and Oyster. May it not be with Rivers State as it was with the Clam and the Oyster.”
Chief Agabi expressed optimism that the crisis could be resolved without external intervention, arguing that “the parties to this dispute are one people who began as one” and urging humility: “If they have now offended one another, they must be humble enough to apologize and to forgive. It is in forgiving that true greatness can be found.”
The Committee called for goodwill and prayer, countering the often-held view that religion has no place in politics. The statement read: “The misconception that God has no place in our politics has harmed and continues to harm the nation … Whether we are governors or ministers or legislators … it is to God that we owe our appointments and promotions.”
On the key figures involved in the crisis, Chief Agabi spoke personally of both the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Governor Fubara, saying: “The Minister … is my friend. He is my benefactor.… The mighty hand of God is upon him. That great Hand demands that he should lead this reconciliation … I trust [Governor Fubara] to respect that bond.”
The Committee also extended respect to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, praying for “a change of heart on their part” and urging them that “in forgiving the Governor whatever wrongs he has committed … they will demonstrate … restraint, … public spirit and … maturity.”
Concluding its charge, the Committee emphasized that it was not a judicial body, but an appeal for unity: “This Committee is not appointed to sit in judgment … Our duty is to appeal to the parties to be reconciled with one another… We appeal to the parties to embrace reconciliation… Sacrifices are called for. Make them and let there be peace.”