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Prosperity Cup Season Six in Retrospect … As Teams Purchase Registration Form

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Ogboinbiri FC

By David Owei.

The Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament christened the “Prosperity Cup”, season six may have come and gone but the sweet memories of champions Ogboinbiri FC of Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas is still fresh in the minds of football enthusiasts across the nation.

According to a renowned philosopher, Albert Cullum Aesop “Good things come in small packages”. The tournament, which started with 106 teams in 2015, then called Restoration Cup, has today become Nigeria’s  biggest grassroots soccer competition, with over 200 teams.

Last year Ogboinbiri FC emerged champions of the 6th edition of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the oil rich-Ogboinbiri side beat Nembe City FC 3-0 to lift the tournament in a final watched by then Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, as well as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau.

Ogboinbiri FC joined Ewo-ama FC of Brass in 2015, Peretorugbene FC of Ekeremor 2018 and Okolobiri FC in 2019/2020. The competition returned in 2022, after a brief break occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic that ravaged the world, with Eternal Grace Ministry EGM FC emerging champions.

Krusaders Feeders FC of Ekeremor were crowned champion in 2023 after beating De Grace FC of Yenagoa by 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Samson Siasia Stadium.

Apart from participation and winning trophies the showpiece has continued to positively engage the youths in Bayelsa as well as engendering unity among grassroots players, coaches and communities in the state.

Ogboinbiri FC qualified from the Amassoma center having taken their opponents to the cleaners in the preliminary round, and went ahead to triumph as Local Government champions, spanking Adulama FC 2-0 in a final decided at the Southern Ijaw headquarters, Oporoma.

Champions Ogboinbiri FC in the quarter finals came from a goal down to beat Wodu FC, who earlier ended the participation of Mover’s FC of Otuasega in the 2024 Prosperity Cup at the Nembe City Stadium, Nembe, by 3 goals to one.

The oil rich-Ogboinbiri side went ahead to pip Bayelsa United Feeders 1-0 in the semi finals while Nembe City FC got to the final of the showpiece with a victory over their eastern rivals, Kongho FC of Brass LGA 1-0 to set up the clash with Ogboinbiri FC.

The Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged Prosperity Cup, season six, also for the first time witnessed local government finals. In Ogbia LGA Mover’s FC of Otuasega beat Anyama FC 2-1 to become Ogbia champions, Ogboinbiri FC of Southern Ijaw spanked Adulama to lift the LGA trophy at Oporoma town.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa Medical University BMU FC beat Afini FC 2-1 to emerge the local government champions, Agbere FC of Sagbama triumphed in Sagbama LGA against a youthful Bayelsa United Feeders side by 5-4 on penalties after a barren draw, Kongho United, Nembe City, Odi United and Krusaders Feeder FC won in their respective LGA finals.

Niger Delta University NDU Queens were crowned champions in the women’s category of the tournament, Peremo Soccer Academy came second while Afini Ladies went home with the third prize money. Leave Am For Me FC triumphed in the Para Soccer category of the championship.

In the meantime, the 7th edition of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle will have three categories in the competition, namely male, female and the para category.

According to the organizers, the prize money has been increased from N20 million in previous editions, to N50 million this year!

The best male team will smile to the bank with a hefty N10 million, the first runners up will receive N5 million, second runner up will go home with N2.5 while the 4th placed team gets N1.5 million. The sum of one million Naira has been set aside for consolation prizes, bringing the total prize money in this category to N20,000, 000.

In the female category, the sum of N10 million is up for grabs as the winners are expected to receive the sum of N5 million, the second placed team will run home with N2.5 million while the third placed team will be N1.5 million richer. The fourth placed team will receive the sum of N500,000. The same amount of N500,000 will be available as consolation prize money in this category.

The sum of N3 million has been set aside as prize money for the para category.

The champions at the local government level will receive the sum of one million Naira while the runners up will go home with the sum of N500,000.

Sale of registration forms is currently ongoing at N25,000 for the male category and N15,000 for the female category.

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Natasha: Senate passes vote of confidence in Akpabio  …..says sexual harassment allegation is before the court

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By George Mgbeleke
Satisfied with the way suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP Kogi Central) for misconduct and her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
were handled, the Red Chamber on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the number three citizen.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

This followed a motion raised by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), under Orders 40 and 51 of the Senate Rules on the controversies created by the actions taken on the misconduct and alleged sexual harassment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for violating the Senate Rules, had described it as an injustice and reported the matter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU of the United Nations on Tuesday.
Presenting the motion, Senator Bamidele stressed the need for clarity, adherence to legislative rules and a renewed focus on governance despite the heightened public interest in the matter due to allegations made by the Kogi lawmaker.
According to him, at no point between August 2023 and the present was the Senate informed of any sexual harassment claims, adding that the issue at hand was purely about disciplinary measures related to breaches of Senate rules.
“I want to make it clear that the matter referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges had nothing to do with sexual harassment.
“The Senate President did not preside over any case related to such allegations. What was addressed was a flagrant disregard for Senate rules and we followed due process as guided by the Constitution,” he stressed.
Senator Bamidele, who insisted that the Senate took the right decision to maintain order and uphold legislative integrity, refuted claims that the Red Chamber acted beyond its constitutional rights, noting that suspension remains the only alternative to anarchy within the chamber.
“It was never an issue before us that any member of us was sexually harassed and we hold on to that point. We need to put the events of the last two weeks and concentrate. There is work before us and we have done everything possible, ensuring that the electoral reforms and others have legislative expressions,” he added.
The Senate Leader was happy about the IPU’s reaction to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s report, saying the international body acted within its own rules, and that any statements made by the Senator in question at the IPU meeting were done in a personal capacity, not as a designated delegate representing Nigeria.
He said: “It was never an issue before us that any senator was sexually harassed. We need to move past the events of the last two weeks and focus on our legislative responsibilities. There is critical work before us, including electoral reforms, economic recovery, and tax reform bills.
“The 7th schedule of the 1999 Constitution is clear, and we all swore by oath that we will make laws for the good of this country. We swore to that oath and ensured everyone abides by that oath.”
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary session, said it was time to focus on the implementation of the 2025 budget already signed by President Bola Tinubu through legislative functions, especially since the sexual harassment allegation is now before the court.
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HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new  appointment

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Senator Ned Nwoko(right) and Emmanuel Fiawei(left)

HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new  appointment

By David Owei, Bayelsa

Youths of the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria (HOSTCON) have described as ” commendable” the appointment of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Sen. Ned Nwoko as the Chairman, Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft.

According to HOSTCON, the appointment of Sen. Ned Nwoko by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Sen God’swill Akpabio as a game-changer for the entire oil and gas value chain in the nation’s oil industry.

The Host Communities Producing Oil Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria under the leadership of the National President, Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Path finder, stated in a statement issued via electronic mail, that the Senator Ned Nwoko-led Committee will salvage the nation’s oil and gas sector and the economic woes of the country.

According to HOSTCON, ” it would never be business as usual for the saboteurs, both locally and internationally because he has already hit the ground running, and Nigerians would see what has never happened in the fight against oil and gas thieves no matter who they are.”

“As a round peg in a round hole, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters, his underground strategies would take these thieves by storm and surprise, and this would usher in lasting solutions in curbing the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering activities in the creeks of Niger Delta region and the hinterlands.”

“The Senator Ned Nwoko we know, is a man of courage and master strategist, who has all it takes to rid the oil and gas sector of this ugly menace of sabotage by some devilish persons who have over the years stolen our common patrimony for their self aggrandizement.”

“We must say that Senator Ned Nwoko, a son of the Niger Delta understands the region so deeply and has broad knowledge about the nefarious activities of these plunders of our national wealth, and knows how to marshal out his strategies to change the ugly narrative in the oil and gas sector.”

” His appointment is highly welcomed by all and sundry and due to his pedigree and sagacity as a patriotic, detribalized, and true Nigerian leader who has distinguished himself in serving the nation with national conscience.”

“We also want to assure Nigerians that Senator Ned Nwoko’s 100 days in this saddle will end oil theft and would be resounding and reverberating because we have seen the handwriting already, and that it would bring about a stupendous growth and development of the oil and gas sector in no distant time as he had already commenced the job by leading a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, seeking a partnership with the military to curb the menace, and also has set up and inaugurated a surveillance team for overt and covert oversight on oil facilities and institutions.”

“Interestingly, the committee has called for strengthening of intelligence-sharing mechanisms, surveillance operations and fostering of seamless inter-agency collaboration to dismantle the complex networks behind crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region and across the international borders.”

“Recently, he affirmed the The committee’s unwavering commitment and sense of patriotism in its resolve to implement watertight policies, deploy cutting-edge security technology, and ensure that those who undermine the national wealth are held accountable.”

“He also said that the task at hand transcends revenue protection; it is about securing the future, bolstering economic resilience, and creating an environment conducive for national progress.”

“0We want Nigerians to be confident about Senator Ned Nwoko because his track record based on his background as an international criminal lawyer. He has the expertise to ensure these thieves are brought to justice, and also his solid performance on the floor of the Senate and impact on his senatorial district is amazing as he has moved numerous life changing motions and bills been sponsored by distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko on the floor of the Red Chambers within the one and half years under the President Bola Tinubu ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra has drastically transformed the lives of his people.”

“Therefore at this juncture, the leadership of the HOSTCON YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, under comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder, National Exco, elders and Board of Trustees, throw our full weight behind Sen Ned Nwoko-led Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters.”

“We at HOSTCON, being the most critical umbrella body that is the ears, eyes, strength, energy and heart beat of the nation’s oil and gas producing communities in the creeks as well the strength and the life-wire of the nation’s economy will partner with the 10th Senate under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akp, through the Chairman of the Senate Add-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Sen Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State to join hands together for us to foster a collective responsibility to salvage the economy of our dear country by all means from the hands of this sophisticated oil thieves in collaboration with their foreign counterparts in this illicit business bent to cripple out economy.”

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NAS seeks review of laws against gender-based discriminations and violence ..says gender-based biases at the homestead

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National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) officials

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) has called for a review of laws mitigating against cases of gender-based discriminations and violence in the society.

The (NAS-PC), in conjunction with gender based advocacy groups including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State and the Do Foundation, however agreed that despite the needed review, there is the need of addressing gender-based biases at the homestead, noting that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons.

The Capoon of the Oxbow Marino Deck of the National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC), Engr. Adogbeji Egbonoje, while speaking during a state-wide radio discussion programme on Radio Bayelsa 97.1 FM, Yenagoa. This year’s theme, “For all Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment, stressed that paying attention to how sons are raised and groomed would have a profound impact on how they relate with women as adults.

He emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based biases at the homestead, noting that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons.

He stressed that paying attention to how sons are raised and groomed would have a profound impact on how they relate with women as adults.

He also highlighted the significance of cultivating the mind of the girl child from infancy, instilling confidence in young girls as they venture into the world as adults,” This, he believed, would empower them to withstand negative peer pressures and chart their paths in life.”

Also speaking on the radio discussion programme, the National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),Barr. Ebiere Emmanuella and the Former Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry also shared expert insights on the historical context of International Women’s Day, progress made in gender equality, and the importance of education and policy changes in addressing systemic barriers.

The two legal experts pointed out the the roles of organizations like FIDA and the NBA in supporting marginalized women and pointed out contending issues of workplace equality, women’s leadership, and the role of men as allies in the fight for gender equality.

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