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Rivers Guber: Christians Unite For Peterside
Christians across denominations in Rivers State, have restated their determination to unite and vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Dr Dakuku Peterside because he is God-fearing and an epitome of humility.
The Christians, who gathered at Obi Wali Convention Centre, Port Harcourt, for an unusual believers’ summit tagged “10,000 Believers, One Vision, to Enthrone Godly Leadership and One Candidate, Bro. Dakuku Peterside”, last Sunday, affirmed that Peterside represents light, which Rivers people need now more than ever before.
The gathering, which also brought together, ministers of God, resolved to continually work and pray for Peterside who is the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The summit, which took off with prayers and thanksgiving, hosted two question and answer sessions moderated by Rev Christy Bature, Rev Alfred Oladapo and Rev Tari Ekiyor.
In their introductory remarks, the panelists called on Rivers State voters to support Peterside because the APC candidate represents Godliness and light.
“If a man is Godly, first he understands that power belongs to God and that God gives power to whoever He pleases. He waits on God before he does anything and it takes time for a Godly leader to emerge. Like Peterside, a Godly leader appreciates God perpetually. A Godly leader is one who has a heart for the people while an ungodly leader is wicked, inconsiderate, insensitive and stubborn”.
They argued that a good leader surrounds himself with kind, compassionate and good people, adding that the people of the state are anxiously looking for a man that will understand their needs and expectations.
They pleaded with Christians not be lukewarm to issues relating to politics, warning that the church cannot afford to be silent now that there are concerns about voting for the right candidate.
They insisted that in this season of elections, Christians must unite, cross denominational lines and ensure that Peterside emerges because he is truly God’s gift to Rivers State people.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has again affirmed his commitment towards unlocking every investment opportunity in Rivers State.
He made the declaration during the flag-off of APC state campaign in Ngo, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area where he addressed supporters from the entire 11 wards of the local government.
The Tide recalls that Peterside currently represents Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
“There is a consensus of opinion about my visit here today. Since this is my home, everybody agrees that I do not have to campaign”, he said.
The APC candidate, who used the occasion to once again thank the people of Andoni for sending him to the Lower House, reviewed his work and stewardship as a representative of the constituency.
He recalled some of his interventions in human capital development and infrastructure like the Unity Road project, his foreign and local scholarship scheme, his constituency projects, empowerment of the people and his robust legislative work, among other things.
He said, “when I become governor, I shall do more than I did as House of Representatives member. In me, there is hope, not just for Andoni sons and daughters but for everybody in Rivers State”, he said.
Peterside pledged to defend Andoni territory and oil wells, promising to work with the people in ensuring that the quality of life of the people improves.
He, however, urged them to plug into the national wind of change by voting for APC in all the elections.
Cross section of the Rumuwoji women forum during the Constituency Empowerment programme organised by Hon. Mrs Blessing Nsiegbe in Port Harcourt. Photo: Obinna Prince Dele
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.