News
How PDP, Wike Plan To Topple My Govt – ONELGA Boss
Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area in Rivers State and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Hon. Augustine Ahiamadu has accused the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike and the PDP Chairman, Rivers State, Chief Felix Obuah of sponsoring youths and a rebellion to remove him from office.
Ahiamadu disclosed this Monday while speaking with Government House Correspondents in Port Harcourt.
He alleged that the steps taken by Chief Nyesom Wike include the circulation of a letter from the Presidency authorizing the suspended CDC and the youth body to take over the activities of the Council.
Ahiamadu asserted that the action was an aberration of the Local Government law signed by the present Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo when he was Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the first tenure of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
He explained that the inauguration and dissolution of youth bodies and Community Development Committees, CDC were functions of the Local Government Councils as stipulated by bye-laws of the councils.
According to him, “To cap it all, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike was in ONELGA (Omoku) and from the information we gathered, he brought a letter from Abuja to give to them (the youth body and CDC) to function. But, I am sorry to mention that it is not the function of the Presidency, but the function of the Local Government Council.
“The Constitution of our nation provides for the chairman to dissolve and inaugurate youth bodies or the CDC. We have a bye-law in our LGA. The present local government handbook signed by the present Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Dangogo in 2010 is still in force. And it empowers the Council to dissolve the CDC if we are experiencing any disorder”, Hon. Ahiamadu said.
Ahiamadu noted, “We are crying out loud because we thought it is a community matter that we can handle, but what is playing out is more political than a community issue. We also have problems in Okwusi community, where the Council dissolved the CDC and youth bodies, and set up caretaker committees, heads did not role. Even at the time when Felix Obuah was Council Chairman, he dissolved the Erema youth body and the EYF, at that time, heads did not role and we did not go to Omoku to block the Council gate. They also went to Egbema and dissolved the youth body, heads did not role, why is it happening in my tenure as Chairman. There is more to this. They are acting the script of Felix Obuah.”
The ONELGA Council boss while expressing dismay over the non-challant attitude of the activities of disbanded youths and the CDC tasked the police in Rivers State to rise up to their responsibilities, stating that the blockade of the council by the disbanded youths and CDC was calculated to cripple the economy of the council and encourage waste of funds accruing to the council on daily basis.
“If the police had done what is right, those people won’t be there to block the council entrance. I believe, something is wrong somewhere. I believe, this is a script written by Felix Obuah. Politics is all about give and take. Everybody will not belong to the same political party. We need to tell the world to hear. The federal government should be aware of what is happening. An individual is not above the law, but (Wike and Obuah) operate as if they are above the law. I am sure, this is happening because Wike has security agents with him”, Ahiamadu noted.
Aside that, Ahiamadu also alleged that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been incessantly chasing and arresting supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC in their homes, while the former CDC Chairman have also violated the law by breaking into peoples’ offices and further damaged property belonging to the council.
“PDP has been chasing our supporters (APC) in their homes. They (PDP) have also arrested our people (APC) from their various homes. It was led by the former CDC Chairman, who also broke into offices and damaged our property.
The DPO in Omoku could not arrest the PDP members, they only arrested APC members and later transferred them to Port Harcourt. You don’t play politics with lives, you don’t play politics with human blood. That is why you see ONELGA to be calm before this problem started. Our people are saying that steps have to be taken to ensure that those boys are flushed out”, Ahiamadu said.
He called on the federal and the Rivers State Government to as a matter of urgency call the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike to order.
“APC is for peace. We want progress. We want good relationships. We want to build sustainable development for our people. So, everybody should play politics according to the rules, and not to play politics with human lives. All security men attached to me have been with
drawn. The security agents, mostly the police are not helping us. The DPO is aware of what I am talking about. The police are our problem because once an agency makes a pronouncement, there is need for security agents to take over or enforce that action. As I speak with you now, the police in Omoku and the PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah are like friends and we felt something is wrong. He sponsored the youths to continue the blockade of our council, and this continued illegal activity has collapsed our business in the council”, Ahiamadu explained.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.