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Impeachment Saga: I’ll Not Resign As Gov, Nyako Insists …As Adamawa Muslim Council, Others Seek Dialogue
Embattled Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako has said that he was not making any plan to resign from office despite the ongoing plot by the state House of Assembly to impeach him.
Nyako further vowed that he may seek Jonathan’s intervention in the ongoing moves by the state House of Assembly to remove him from office at the appropriate time.
According to Nyako, the president would likely wade into the matter since the state has always been there for the president.
Nyako made this disclosure at the Presidential Villa in Abuja where he attended the inauguration of the steering committee of the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI) inaugurated by the president.
Speaking with newsmen, Nyako said, “Not yet. It has not reached that crisis point. We have supported him all this time; he has supported us and in situations like these, when Mr. President’s support is required, we will seek it.”
Asked if he might likely resign, he said he was not considering that yet, even as he said his chances of surviving the ongoing impeachment proceedings in the state were bright.
“Well, it is in the court and the court said it was not well done. We are hoping that if they want to do it, they will do it following the normal process in whatever they want to do,” Nyako stated, just as he claimed that the state was calm and peaceful.
On whether some former Heads of State had spoken to the President on his behalf, the governor said, “That would be excellent”.
Asked to give insight into the root cause of the crisis, he said:” Adamawa is a very interesting place. If I tell you we have 87 ethnic groups and the two religions are fairly balanced, it means that being sensitive to each and every one of us is very important.
“It is a place of intellectualism; everybody has his own point of view and you have a group of people who share a certain point of view. And until it changes, they will maintain that point of view. But we have been peaceful somehow and we will remain peaceful”, he pledged.
Asked if he may defect back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyako said, “Quite frankly, you know how I joined the PDP and partisan politics in the first place. It is not really my field. My field is known. You know what I was before. We are straightforward; have two distinctions: loyalty and disloyalty; two separate pieces.
“But one of the politicians told me that there are a lot of things in between loyalty and disloyalty which up till this moment, I have not appreciated. So, for me, disloyalty with this type of attitude with Nigerian politics of today, you are likely to step on toes of a few,” he added.
The Muslim Council of Nigeria in Adamawa has called for dialogue in resolving the dispute between the state legislature and executive arms in the interest of peace, unity and development in the state.
It would be recalled that following a request by the state House of Assembly, a seven-man panel was constituted by the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngilari.
Speaking to newsmen on the outcome of the council’s meeting in Yola yesterday, one of the members of the council and National Chairman of Jama’atul Izalatul Bidiah Wa Iquamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), Shiekh Bala Lau, said the group was concerned about the development, and called for an amicable resolution of the matter.
“Our state is under state of emergency and this face-off between the Legislature and Executive is further heating the system and creating tension in the state.
“We are against the removal of the governor; we are against the removal of the Deputy Governor, as such action could lead to more crisis in the state,” Lau said.
He said the council had been trying to reach out to the parties concerned “to see reason and sheathe their sword, particularly at this holy Ramadan period’’.
He said if necessary, clerics and traditional rulers in the state were ready to mediate in the matter.
Lau urged the people of the state to use the Ramadan period to pray for peace in the state and the country.
Similarly, the Adamawa Traditional Council has called for dialogue in resolving the political crisis.
The council made the call in a statement at the end of its meeting in Yola yesterday.
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.