The senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, has disclosed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori does not understand the benefits of state creation.

He revealed this in Ogwashi-Uku, Oshimili North Local Government Area on Thursday during the APC Women Support Group in collaboration with Rita Daniels Single Parenthood, Girl Child Initiative, and Regina Daniel’s Charity and Development Foundation.

He also confirmed that Governor Oborevwori warned his aides against the projects, turning them into opponents of Anioma State creation, fearing the creation of another state for selfish interests.

The senator, who said the governor told him he would not support the creation of Anioma State, vowed that nothing would stop the creation of Anioma State, not even the governor.

“It is now at public hearing after passing the 2nd reading; then it will be back to the Senate for the 3rd reading and will eventually go to the President for assent.

“From the Delta North first Senator Osakwe, through Nwaoboshi, Okowa, they were all afraid because they don’t want the state to be shared. They don’t know the advantages of state creation, such as two governors, two deputies, more lawmakers, and other developments.

“The only party that will make it happen is APC. If there is anybody in other political parties, it is because of their stomachs, but not for the interest of Anioma people,” he said.

On why he joined APC, Nwoko said he had a meeting on 1st January 2025 with President Tinubu, had meetings with the Senate President and other APC leaders and stakeholders subsequently, who told him that Anioma State creation could only be their project if he joined APC.

“If I am pushing and I have the President with me, wouldn’t I need to join APC? They said it was my project since I was in PDP, but if I wanted it to be their project, I should join APC. I want it to be their project. All APC members on the committee I belong to support Anioma state creation,” the senator stated.

The United States, US, House of Representatives on Thursday passed a budget bill to cut government taxes and government spendings.

The bill was passed despite opposition from Democrats and Republican hard-liners.

BBC reports that the spending plan is key in President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and he has called it a “big, beautiful bill”.

The bill was passed after 216-214 vote by lawmakers.

Reacting, Trump congratulated lawmakers for the p[assage of the bill.

Posting on social media, Trump wrote: “Congratulations to the House on the passage of a Bill that sets the stage for one of the Greatest and Most Important Signings in the History of our Country.”

However, the House bill has much deeper spending cuts than the version passed by the US Senate, and the two versions must now be merged into one bill for him to sign into law.

The House passed the budget bill mostly along party lines, with all Democrats voting against, along with two Republicans – Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Victoria Spartz of Indiana.

The Presidency on Thursday, took steps to close the gaps in bringing federal policies closer to grassroots communities across Nigeria, with the inauguration of a National Community Engagement Framework Drafting Committee.

After the ceremony held at the State House, Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North‑West), Abdullahi Yakasai, said the framework will embody the spirit of partnership and collective action.

Yakasai said, “The framework drafting committee we are launching today embodies the spirit of partnership and collective action, ensuring that progress is shared responsibility.

“Our nation is at an important juncture where every decision must prioritise the wellbeing of our citizens.

“First, you will dialogue and have a meaningful conversation and action. It will present a new chapter in our nation’s history that is built on the principles of inclusivity and equity.”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement North‑Central, Mrs Abiodun Essiet, said the framework would serve as a blueprint for action to ensure that no citizen feels excluded from national decision‑making.

“Today is not just a ceremony; it is a call to serve, to innovate, and to rise to the occasion,” she told committee members and invited dignitaries.

“This framework reflects our collective commitment to make sure no voice is left unheard, no community left behind, and every citizen feels seen, valued, and empowered.”

Essiet urged members drawn from government, civil society, and the private sector to act as “bridges between policy and people,” stressing that their task goes beyond representation to inspiring trust and driving impact.

Under the directive of President Bola Tinubu, the committee will draft guidelines for collaborative governance, inclusive decision‑making, and citizen empowerment, she explained.

Once completed, the framework is expected to formalise channels for regular dialogue between federal agencies and local communities, with the aim of improving service delivery and boosting public confidence in government programmes.

Its first assignments include mapping existing community engagement efforts, identifying gaps, and proposing clear metrics for measuring impact.

Essiet further said the committee would work “with courage, commitment, and clarity of purpose” to deliver results swiftly.

“Nigeria is counting on us. Let us rise to the call,” she concluded.

The State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, emphasised the importance of the committee’s successful assignment and its impact on communities nationwide.

Represented by the Director, Information and Communication Technology, Lukman Kilani, Fashedemi assured the committee of support to ensure a successful assignment that will positively impact the communities across the country.

A consultant on the project, the CEO at Environmental Harmony Limited, Mrs Kitan Oluwagbuyi, apprised committee members of the task ahead.

Oluwagbuyi said the committee has six weeks to draft the framework.

She explained that the framework is meant to “Provide a structured approach to stakeholder identification, mapping, and engagement.

“Create tools and templates for participatory governance at all levels. Strengthen feedback mechanisms to improve policy implementation and service delivery.

“Enhance government accountability and transparency in community-driven development programmes.”

According to Oluwagbuyi, the opening fortnight will be devoted to stock‑taking.

During this period the framework drafting committee is expected to present a detailed status report, distilling lessons from earlier outreach programmes, while other committee members will lay out their engagement strategies, successes and persistent bottlenecks.

By the third and fourth weeks, external consultants will have drafted the first version of the National Stakeholders’ Engagement Framework and circulated it for line‑by‑line scrutiny by all members.

The final stretch, covering weeks five and six, will see the committee fold comments into a clean text, vote to adopt the document and forward it to the Federal Government for approval and nationwide implementation.

The stakeholders received goodwill messages from the President of the Community Development Practitioners of Nigeria, Prof. Bello Shittu; Professor of Public Policy, Governance and Core Government Functionality at the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman and the Sarkin Bwari, Auwal Musa Ijakolo II.