By David Owei

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Akpe, has stressed the need for people to fear and serve God to enjoy His manifold blessings irrespective of their backgrounds and present circumstances in life.

Dr Akpe, who is a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Bayelsa, made the call on Sunday while preaching at the child dedication of his younger brother’s son, Master Samuel Peremobowei Akpe, at the House of Prayer Parish of the Church in Yenagoa.

The Deputy Governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, emphasized that right from creation, God had not and will never abandon or disappoint those who serve Him.

In a sermon titled “the Difference Is Clear” anchored on Exodus Chapter Eleven Verse Seven and Malachi Three Verse Eighteen, Dr Akpe, highlighted divine immunity, security, provisions and peace as some of the benefits available to those who genuinely believe and serve God.

He said although God loves the whole of His creation, there is always a mark of distinction between people who worship God in spirit and truth and those who do not.

Making reference to his family and what God did in the land of Egypt to save the Israelites as examples, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor stressed that God will always deliver those who trust in Him in the event of hardship and troubles.

In their separate remarks, Mr Philip Akpe and his wife, Mrs Tina Akpe, Parents of Master Samuel Peremobowei, expressed gratitude to God for His love upon their lives, especially for the miraculous conception and birth of a male child.

The couple also thanked the Deputy Governor, his wife, Dr Favour Akpe, the Pastors and members of the RCCG family for their support as well as everyone who attended the child dedication and thanksgiving service.

Dignitaries who attended the event were the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Dr Favour Akpe, and some members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including the Majority Leader, Rt Hon. Monday Bolo-Bubou, Colonel Benard Kenebai (Retd), Hon. Timi-Omubo Agala, Hon. Tare Porri, Chief Gabriel Ogbara, and Hon. Oteigbanyon George-Brah.

Others included the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, her non-indigenes counterpart, Mazi, Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, Chairman, Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chief Diekivie Itiedu, and the parents of the Deputy Governor, His Royal Highness Chief John Agadabiri Akpe and Chief (Mrs) Esther Akpe.

In a related development, the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, led notable political and religious leaders, at the weekend, to attend the send-off ceremony in honour of the Pastor-in-Charge of Rivers Province 18 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs) Smart Odiaua, where he called on Christians to remain faithful in the service of God and humanity.

Until his recent elevation, Pastor Odiaua served as the Assistant Pastor in charge of Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) in Bayelsa Province Two of the RCCG.

By George Mgbeleke
The Senate Sunday strongly defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, noting that the legislative initiative “is purely a child of necessity and not of political expediency as well as a product of national consensus and not of cynicism.”

The upper chamber, also, noted that the proposal to create state police was one of urgent public importance, which could not and should not take a back seat because of anyone’s political aspirations in the light of stark realities currently facing the country.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele made these remarks in a statement released by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday, highlighting that the process of accommodating state police in the country’s governance structure did not start recently.

Despite some dissenting views, Bamidele said observations had shown that Nigerians largely welcome the passage of the Bill with a conviction that it would significantly de-escalate the country’s security conditions at the subnational level.

He explained that the state police proposal was part of memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, saying the memorandum had been subjected to rigorous process and multi-tiered consultation across the federation due its sensitive nature.

During this process, Bamidele observed that the National Assembly broadly consulted the Executive, Nigerian Governors Forum, Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria and the leadership of the Nigeria Police, among others.

In July 2025, according to him, the National Assembly conducted public hearings in all geo-political zones, and the participants overwhelmingly approved it. At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of stark realities we are facing today.

He explained the contributions of the Nigeria Police to the process of the enacting the constitution alteration bill, which according to him, formed part of the highly vital recommendations that could help the National Assembly develop accountability and oversight mechanisms that would prevent the abuse of state police by some political actors.

The senate leader added that the resolve of the Nigeria Police “to support the Bill obviously highlights its strategic national significance to deal with insecurity at local and state levels.”

Beyond the input of the Nigeria Police, Bamidele further explained how the consideration of the State Police Bill was subjected to intense debates at the Senate and House of Representatives.

He said: “Even though the APC is the majority, there are members of opposition parties – PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party – that exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest and not on parochial basis.

“In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06% approval at the Senate alone, “he disclosed.

Globally, Bamidele said security “is a collective public good that benefits citizenry across ethnic, political and religious divides. Political actors elsewhere always throw off their togas of partisanship and parochialism to support initiatives that will boost and reinforce national security.”

At this challenging time, Bamidele observed that opposition parties and leaders should come forward with ideas that would deepen the peace and stability of the federation.

Even when they disagree on some grounds, according to him, they are under obligations to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our Nation better and greater. Unfortunately, they have not passed this critical test of opposition democracy.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna

The Niger State Ministry of Mineral Resources and the Niger State Police Command have reaffirmed their commitment to work as operational partners in tackling illegal mining and related security threats across the state.

This was contained in a press release issued by the special assistant on media and publicity affairs to the commissioner Shaibu Yahaya Àgaie and made available to Journalists in Minna over the weekend.

The Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Alh. Muhammad Qasim Danjuma Mohammed delegation on a collaborative visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, at the Police Headquarters Dutsen-Kura Minna Yesterday.

Speaking during the visit, the Commissioner noted that while the two institutions are separate, their relationship is operational and collaborative, not hierarchical.

He commended CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman and his officers for their efforts in sanitizing the state and assured the Command of the Ministry’s continued cooperation to achieve its mandate on illegal miners, illegal mineral task collectors, and other related infractions.

In his response, CP Adamu Elleman assured the Ministry of improved synergy and collaboration, stating that both agencies share a common interest in keeping Niger State peaceful and secure.

The CP further advised the Ministry to formally notify the Command, in writing, of identified illegal mining sites. He reaffirmed that the role of the Police is to provide armed security, arrest offenders, prosecute cases, and protect Ministry staff during high-risk enforcement operations.

The Commissioner of Police also applauded
Alh. Muhammad Qasim Danjuma for his foresight and vigilance as the watchdog of the Ministry, urging him to promptly report any irregularities or violations to the Command to enable swift legal action.