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 Our Correspondent

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has declared that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was only crowned arrowhead of the Biafra struggle, not the ‘Supreme Leader, hence should not be referred to as one.

The statement is coming on the heels of a renewed disagreement between MASSOB and IPOB.

In a statement issued by the Uchenna Madu led MASSOB and signed by its spokesman, Comrade Edison Samuel, the organization expressed concern over the internal crisis within IPOB.

It described the public exchange of accusations among its members as damaging to the Biafra struggle.

The sratement partly read, “The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu, has cautioned our sister organization, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to stop this public display of internal rancour and misunderstanding,”

“Ordinarily, MASSOB would not interfere in the internal affairs of another organization. However, because the Biafra struggle is involved, we cannot remain silent.”0

The disagreement appears to have exposed fresh cracks within the pro-Biafra movement, which has pursued the actualization of an independent Biafran state for more than 24 years.

The dispute over the use of the title has further heightened tensions between the two separatist groups.

The group warned that the ongoing exchanges of accusations and counter-accusations were detrimental to the collective objective of achieving Biafra’s self-determination.

It added, “Your attacks and counter-attacks, allegations and counter-allegations are neither useful nor healthy for the struggle for the actualization and restoration of Biafra.

“IPOB, like MASSOB, is a household name committed to serving the people of Biafra. Therefore, stop insulting and tarnishing its image.”

While urging IPOB’s leadership to embrace peace and resolve its internal differences amicably, MASSOB added, “We call for peace, unity, and mutual understanding among the leadership of IPOB.

“As one family pursuing the same cause, sheath your swords and work towards the peaceful resolution of all internal disagreements.

”We wish to reiterate our position on the leadership of the Biafra nation. There is no official leadership title or designation known as ‘Supreme Leader’ in Biafraland.”
According to the group, the word “Supreme” is an attribute that belongs solely to God Almighty.

“The title ‘Supreme’ is an attribute that belongs only to God Almighty. Any attempt to assume or accept the title of ‘Supreme Leader’ amounts to a direct challenge to the supremacy of God Almighty.

“It will be recalled that on June 29, 2017, pro-Biafra organizations under the umbrella of the Biafra People National Council (BPNC), with MASSOB as a participant, declared Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the arrowhead of the Biafra struggle. We did not crown him the ‘Supreme Leader.”

Reaffirming its position on the leadership structure of the Biafra movement, MASSOB maintained that no individual bears the title of “Supreme Leader