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Ex-Rep Berates Wike, GDI
The Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a political group founded by the Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, has been described as an evil organisation meant to instigate unwarranted crisis in Rivers State.
Two time former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Igo Aguma, stated this while reacting to the GDI attack on Governor Chibuike Amaechi over his appointment of an Acting Chief Judge for Rivers State.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the ex-lawmaker who tackled the GDI for showing grave disrespect to the Rivers State Governor stated that for “the records, the achievements of Governor Amaechi do not portray his administration as bereft of ideas” as stated by the Bright Amaewhule-led group.
“The statement titled: “Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Contrived Crises of Succession: Governor Amaechi Rapes the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution in Connivance with His Attorney General and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal”, cast unreasonable aspersions on prominent Rivers indigenes, especially Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
It reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), signed by its President General, Bright Ameawhule, wherein he made disparaging statements about our son and the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi..
“The statement is mischievous, blasphemous and strengthens our suspicion that the elements behind the GDI are determined to destabilise our dear state, but Rivers people will resist it.
“While we do not want to join issues with the evil driving, volatile and rabble-rousing GDI and its sponsors over the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for the state, we take serious exceptions to abuses poured on Governor Amaechi and his administration.
The former Rivers commissioner said the kind of words used on the governor clearly shows that the GDI and its sponsors lack home training and are morally bankrupt in thinking and actions.
He recalled a statement in which the group accused Governor Amaechi of trying to cripple the revered judicial arm of government.
GDI had referred to the governor as danger to democracy, bereft of ideas and that “the Holy Spirit has departed from him”.
Continuing, Aguma said, “We do not take kindly to these words and wish to state clearly that Governor Amaechi has worked assiduously, more than any of his antagonists, who today are major beneficiaries of his administration.
“Perhaps, we should advise the GDI to seek God’s forgiveness for the unwarranted crises they have instigated in the state through their sponsors and cohorts.
“Rather than say the Holy Spirit has departed from Governor Amaechi, it is actually the GDI and its selfish sponsors that the Holy Spirit has departed from, as all their evil plans to cause chaos are manifesting.
“Despite these seemingly daunting challenges, God has continued to sustain Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and indeed Rivers people, given clear indication that the Holy Spirit has not departed from the governor and the people.
“For the records, the achievements of Governor Amaechi do not portray his administration as bereft of ideas.“While commending the governor for appointing Justice Peter Agumagu as an Acting Chief Judge in line with the constitution, as we await the confirmation of a substantive Chief Judge by the National Assembly, it is our belief that in the fullness of time, God in His wisdom will determine those the Holy Spirit had departed from.”
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.