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We’re Behind You, Ogbakor Ikwerre, Reps Tell Amaechi
President Goodluck Jonathan (left), receiving the report of the Presidential Monitoring Committee (PMC) on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from the chairman, Chief Isaac Jamide, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.
The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation has commended the sterling leadership and enormous achievements of Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi even as the Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed satisfaction with the level of projects implementation in the state by Governor Amaechi.
Both groups made their commendations during separate solidarity visits to the Rivers State Governor last Monday at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Speaking on behalf of the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation, its President-General, Prof Augustine Onyeozu said, “the former national executive led by Chief S. A. Agbaru briefed the convention fully on your audible, laudable programmes and landmark achievements as Governor of Rivers State since you assumed office. The incontrovertible fact is that your performance and achievements are superlative and excellent. You have brought pride and honour to us. We are indeed very proud of you. We will further urge you to ensure that in all your conduct and activities in government, you give every ethnic group in this state adequate and appropriate sense of belonging”.
The Ogbakor Ikwerre equally thanked the people of Rivers State for their continued support and loyalty to Governor Amaechi.
“The people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality with every sense of responsibility appreciate all the ethnic groups in Rivers State for the support and loyalty they have given to His Excellency’s administration. It is our fervent prayer that in due season, we shall reciprocate this love the Rivers people have shown to you, our son and to us”.
The group however urged Governor Amaechi to disregard negative comments coming from people who unjustly misinterpreted his government policies and remain focused, courageous and objective to deliver on his mandate. They also pledged their support and loyalty to him.
“His Excellency in recent times we have observed the misinterpretations being given to some of your executive actions. As your parents, we know you keep your words and that you mean what you say. In our clime unfortunately, not many appreciate being told the truth and very many prefer those who deceive them. Remain focused, courageous and objective in all your undertakings.
“We want to assure His Excellency that the Ikwerre people will stand by you in any and all actions you may take to uphold the spirit and letters of the oath of office you swore to. Deliver on your mandate. Delivering on your mandate is non-negotiable. We are proud to say to you today we are very proud of your scorecard as the executive Governor of Rivers State. We wish you continued success in office and God’s eternal blessing”, they said.
Responding, the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi thanked members of the national executive of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation for the visit.
“Let me thank you for this visit and welcome you to the Government House of the Rivers State Government and say to you that this in Ikwerre tradition reminds me of a wrestling match. When two groups are matched for a wrestling match, each leader of the group continues to use a cane to wipe on the back of the expert who is wrestling to ensure that he is motivated and does not allow the other man to bring him down. I liken this visit to that”.
Amaechi said his administration has equitably distributed projects in the state and integrated all Rivers people in his government. He equally appealed to the people of Rivers State to love one another and work together in common pursuit for the state’s progress.
“We must work together as Rivers people. We must love each other. We must know that just as the rest of Rivers people have said an Ikwerre man must be governor, Ikwerre people must also participate in saying ‘another ethnic group should be governor’. When it goes from there, it goes to somewhere else and somewhere else and somewhere else until it gets back to the Ikwerre people again. We must not misuse our majority. We can use the majority to participate but we must not abuse the majority. I must thank you on behalf of cabinet for the unalloyed support you have promised. Ikwerre people must be ready to be part of the progress of Rivers State by using their votes”, he said.
The Governor promised to construct more internal roads and complete all ongoing projects in the state.
Leader of the Rivers Representatives, Hon Asita O. Asita, the lawmaker representing Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency spoke on behalf of other members of the caucus.
While expressing satisfaction with the level of projects implementation in the state, the Rivers Caucus congratulated Governor Amaechi for his courage in giving the state a face lift and speedy development.
“We are here to express and declare our support and appreciation to you, on how you have successfully and wonderfully managed the affairs of the state. In the past five years and four months, we are satisfied with the level of implementation and vision that you have shown, we are satisfied and indeed thankful to God for giving you to our state at such a time as this, and wish to congratulate you for the show of uncommon courage and statesmanship in the face of uncovered hostilities towards your person as governor”, Asita said.
On issues concerning the East-West road construction, Hon. Asita said, as primary beneficiaries of the road traversing the state and their different constituencies, the Rivers Caucus should be seen as stakeholders and interested parties in the execution of the project which should be taken seriously.
“At different times Your Excellency, notable personalities in this region have expressed fear and concern over the slow and unserious nature of the execution of the East-West road construction project, we are happy that you agree no less with us, and challenge detractors of the Niger Delta people who suffered so much loss on this road to show proof to the contrary, but we are still worried that the road is still very deplorable and nothing significant has been done before and after you made those harmless rather patriotic comments that attracted unnecessary political interpretations”, Asita said.
The Rivers Caucus further maintained that they will continue to deploy the instrumentality of the National Assembly to focus on East-West road construction project with the expectation that the road when completed will enhance the economy of the Niger Delta region.
The delegation equally urged Governor Amaechi to challenge the unwholesome attempt to cede Rivers territory to other states, and also thank him for taking steps to defend the territory that make up the different constituencies which he (Amaechi) declared to protect on assumption of office as Governor of Rivers State.
“We encourage you to be steadfast, especially at times like this, so that one does not go to bed a citizen of Rives State, and wake up the following morning, a citizen of another state, or have our land ceded because of oil, we join all other well-meaning indigenes of the state to say no resources should be spared in this pursuit”, Asita said.
On this part, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi thanked the show of support by the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives, saying that he will continue to discharge his responsibilities and also defend the Rivers territory which has a geographical location in the country’s constitution.
“We must as a people work together, your responsibilities as Federal Lawmakers is to watch out for those issues that will tamper with our resources, so that you can speak out”, Amaechi said.
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.