By David Owei, Yenagoa.

As part of the activities of the Society of Nigeria Artists ,Bayelsa state chapter recently organized an art exhibition where their art works and paintings were displayed to the admiration of the general public in Yenagoa.

Speaking to journalists of the essence of the Exhibition , Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Atmosphere Art Gallery Angalapele Tombara Samson urged young talented Bayelsans interested in Art Work to continue, saying Art is therapeutic.

Tombara said, Art is not just about the beauty, but that Art heal the soul adding that it can be used to calm the nerves when one is down or in depression,it’s a healing balm.

Angalapele Tombara Samson handed down this during the Art exhibition in Yenagoa the Bayelsa state capital recently, saying the
” Art exhibition is to show case the talent we have in Bayelsa, telling our stories the way it is. The exhibition is to promote our Art Work in the state”.

“The best way to pass this message is to continue the show to create awareness for our people . As we start small, gradually it will get bigger.

“People are beginning to know the value of Art Work and what it stands for, It’s a tools to convey some critical messages.People are coming out this time around to see what we can offer. We are here to tell our stories through Art, paintings and from the local, it will gain international recognition one day.

“Art is used to preserve our culture, our heritage to show that this is what we are and what we do.The Art exhibition is to show case the talent we have in bayelsa, telling our stories ss it’s. It shows our resilience,struggles and determination and our history. The exhibition is to promote our Art and Culture in the state”, he said .

Angalapele said, for patronage from government and individuals, “the Art professional in the state needs to create more awareness from time to time and continue with this annual exhibition”.

Answering questions from journalists, Bolaji Akpuloma Chairman Society of Nigeria Artists Bayelsa state chapter said, the Art exhibition is to let the people in the state especially Yenagoa metropolis to know that there is something going on in Art World in the state.

According to him, “the aim of this exhibition is Expression of the essence of life, we are not just looking at Art itself but we are looking generally at humanity. The Artist sees life through it brush to actualize what he wants people to see.We still have a lot to do, but I just believe that this exhibition is a turning point for the next year exhibition that will hold”.

“Art is a viable tool for self development and that is why we brought in students to come understand life in a perspective of self development.A lot of Bayelsans artists are doing well outside the state but if you bring the same artists here in Bayelsa, they hardly gets patronage , reason been that the standard of understanding Art here is very low.

We from bayelsa here rush to Calabar and other places that have made names for themselves, why can’t we make names for ourselves” he asked.

Also speaking the Managing Director of MEA Gallery,Macaulay Eteli commended the various artists that participated in the exhibition,which is an indication that artists from this part of the world can use art to tell their stories and that with arts they could eke out their living.He urged them not to relent,but continue to practice their profession and in the future they would get recognition and patronage by art collectors ,private and corporate organizations.They should not be discouraged by low turn out or lack of government presence.
Art paintings are veritable means of tourism promotion and development,and Bayelsa state is a tourism destination,art can accelerate that from different dimensions.
Art works could depict cultural brilliance of a society .

The theme of the Exhibition is Expression : The Essence of life.

Other artists that took part in the Exhibition include secondary school students and upcoming artists such as Deborah Wilcox, who titled her work ” When the rain couldn’t stop us” Deborah Alikwe, who titled her own “Contagious Joy” Ogheneruro Sandra Shedrack , who titled his own ” Seen ” Dave Yanky “Vulnerability” Footprint Art, Russia Inei, InRush Art Gallery, Liene Atonye, Workaholic Bee Concept , Vivian Effort, V- Collections,Jerri Bolosi amongst other artists and professionals whose art works and paintings were displayed during the epoch making Exhibition.

By Our Correspondent
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

The order followed his arraignment on Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud and gratification.

Ngige, who served as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between 2015 and 2023, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before Justice Maryam Hassan.

According to a charge sheet filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former minister allegedly abused his office by awarding multiple contracts to associates and companies connected to him.

The anti-graft agency alleged that seven contracts worth N366.47 million were approved for Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a firm linked to Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, described as an associate of Ngige.

The commission also listed Zitacom Nigeria Limited,also associated with Ezebinwa, as a beneficiary of eight contracts valued at N583.68 million.

Two firms reportedly linked to Uzoma Igbonwa, Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, were also said to have received contract approvals amounting to N668.14 million and N161.60 million, respectively.

The EFCC further alleged that Ngige received financial benefits from contractors through organisations linked to him.

The former Anambra governor was accused of accepting N38.65 million through the Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, and an additional N55 million through the Senator (r) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited—both contractors with the NSITF.

During Friday’s session, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to remand the defendant in prison and set a date for trial, insisting that Ngige posed a flight risk.

He told the court that although the former minister had been granted administrative bail and allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment, he failed to return his international passport upon arriving in Nigeria on November 19, as required.

But Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, disputed the claim, stating that his client had formally notified the EFCC that his passport and other valuables were stolen during a robbery incident in London.

He said the former minister returned to Nigeria using a travel certificate issued in place of the stolen passport.

Ikwueto acknowledged that his formal bail motion had not yet matured but urged the court to grant interim bail, stressing that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody and was in need of urgent medical attention.

In her ruling, Justice Hassan rejected the oral bail request and ordered that Ngige be remanded in Kuje prison.

She adjourned the hearing of the bail application to Monday, November 15, and directed that the defendant be given access to medical care while in custody.

By David Owei .

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has expressed sadness over the death of Adesoji Omosebi, Publisher of SOJ Worldwide Online News, a member of the Osun Online Publishers Association.

The Governor described his demise as a great loss to the media industry in Osun state adding that his contributions to the growth and development of the online media industry in Osun state cannot be over emphasized.

In a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor noted that the contributions of the late Publisher to the development of Osun State as a player in the fourth estate of the realm will never be forgotten.

“Today, we mourn the demise of Adesoji Omosebi, the Publisher of SOJ Worldwide Online News and a member of the Osun Online Publishers Association.

“His demise is a huge loss to the media industry in Osun state. His contributions to the growth and development of the online media sector as pioneer Chairman of OOPA will never be forgotten.

“His contributions to the development of Osun as a major player in the fourth estate of the realm will never be forgotten.

The governor further directed the State Health Insurance agency to study the possibility of enrolling journalists in the health Insurance scheme, describing them as important stakeholders in the society.

“May God Almighty comfort his family and grant them the fortitude to bear this great loss. SOJ will be missed greatly”, the Governor noted in a condolence message.