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Obuah Lauds Wike’s Prudent Resource Management
The Paramount Ruler of Go-Round Community nationwide and Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro. Felix Obuah has described Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as a divine gift to the state and prudent manager of resources.
Obuah, who stated this while speaking at the annual Interactive/Cultural Fiesta organized by Go-Round Community, Mba and Chief Mike Elechi Support Groups at the Vintage Farms and Products Limited, Elele, last Friday, said the governor was doggedly steering the ship of Rivers State on the right path despite the current economic recession in the country.
The Go-Round Community leader, who is also chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, said Rivers people would continue to admire Wike because of what he called, “his uncanny wisdom in resource management”.
He noted that Wike’s success in governance lies in the fact that he has not come, as he put it, to steal, like his predecessor did.
“Governor Wike has not come to explore and impact as others are doing. He has used the little resources at his disposal to impact on the society, and that is why he has been referred to as ‘Mr. Projects’.
“That is why we continue to stress that if you put a righteous man in authority, the people will always rejoice. Rivers people are rejoicing because Nyesom Wike is in authority”, Obuah, who is popularly called ‘Mba Anabara Agu 1 of Orashi Region’, said.
Obuah, who is also the sole administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) said the best way to reciprocate the good gestures of the state governor was to give him maximum support which would spur him to more action.
He described the Go-Round, Mba and Chief Mike Elechi Cultural Festival as a humble contribution towards promoting the rich cultures of Rivers State, adding that the carnival was always anchored on traditional dancing, wrestling and showcasing native dressing.
With 21 cannon salutes to herald Obuah’s arrival with his entourage into the arena, the cultural competition brought out the best of displays from over 20 groups across the state.
After a scintillating performance by Happiness Entertainment Group of Port Harcourt, the ladies who emerged overall best, ran away with the biggest prize of N500,000.00.
The second best group, Pharaohs Cultural Troupe from Isiokpo, received a cash reward of N300,000.00 while Destiny Group, who trilled the audience with their rendition using acoustic xylophone, finished third and smiled home with N200,000.00.
The wrestling contest provided the highlight of the event as four groups vied for the N500,000.00 cash prize.
With the famous Hon. Ayala National Wrestling Group squaring up against three others, spectators who included commissioners, special advisers, Rivers State House of Assembly members and other dignitaries got a full doze of raw traditional wrestling.
It was a case of the biblical David and Goliath as pint-sized, Bayelsa-born Amas Daniel stunned the ‘great’ Ikwerre Amateur champion, Increase Aso Akelechi with an unbelievable throw that saw his back flattened on the ground.
He went home with N300,000 while Aso got N200,000.00.
The third prize of N100,000.00 went to Progress Godswill Benson, a student of University of Port Harcourt.
There was also a mouth-watering cash splash to various groups who participated in the rally session.
Earlier in his address, Obua Weze III and Eze Nkwe Mmegbe of Omenele, Sir Mike Elechi, said he was driven by what he called a synergy of purpose with the Paramount Ruler of Go-Round Community, Bro. Felix Obuah to organize the event in order to share knowledge with friends, party members and community leaders in the two LGAs of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Ikwerre.
“Our choice of business environment is a plus to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike’s (Mr. Project) quest to evenly develop the state.
“Rather than operating from Port Harcourt, Abuja or Lagos, we decided to add value to our local government and our local people”, he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Chief David Briggs said the event was most significant as it makes a bold attempt to revive the ailing culture of the people.
“In dancing, dressing and even the way our people speak, suggest a depreciation of cultures. I thank God for what Mba Anabara Agu and Chief Mike Elechi are doing to reawaken the cultural importance of our people”, he said, and urged others to emulate them.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Tonye Briggs Oniyide said culture brings love, togetherness and happiness, adding that these values were what Governor Nyesom Wike was pursuing with vigour to bring peace and development to people of the state.
She said it was for that reason that the ministry has, in conjunction with the sponsors of the event, packaged the Go-Round Community, Mba and Chief Mike Elechi Cultural Festival, assuring that the state government would continue to partner with similar organizations to sustain the cultural legacies of our forefathers.
My-ACE China, known as the Mayor of Housing, has won the 2024 Man of the Year. The award was announced by board of trustees of the DMOMA Awards Academy in Port Harcourt at the week.
The organisers also declared his company, the Construction and Housing Mayor Limited as the brand promoter of the year, the third in a row.
The award ceremony which was held at the Arena Event centre in the GRA area of Port Harcourt was attended by several dignitaries in the society.
The organisers led by Dr. Ezebunwo Nyeche (chairman) and Stephen Chidiebere Okoye (Awards organizer) said in a statement that China was picked for his support and impact to small and medium enterprises in Rivers State, his media footsteps and his consistent propagation and promotion of Rivers State.
They noted that China won over 10 prestigious awards in 2024 alone on his track to promote Port Harcourt as a brand destination and Rivers as a peaceful state.
Handing the award to China, the organisers said the Mayor of Housing always comes to the rescue of events that aim to promote Rivers State, saying the DMOMA Awards would be held in two more cities in 2025.
Responding, Mr China said there is need for more sponsorship of talents in Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta, saying what they lacked was support.
“There is more talent in Port Harcourt but there is more support in Lagos to artistes than in Port Harcourt. So, the top talents in Port Harcourt work 10 times harder than those in Lagos to attract sponsorship.”
He also said Nigeria has a treasure base which is Port Harcourt but that the treasure is not oil and gas but talents. He said he was highly elated to win the of Man of the Year Award with his firm winning brand of the year.
In an interview, My-ACE China said he was particularly impressed with the diligence demonstrated by the organisers and the processes they used to pick winners every year.
He also said the victory showed attention paid by the organisers to unveil the personality behind the corporate masquerade, not just focusing on the company. “It actually reaffirms one of my quotes that a brand can only grow as big as the character of the visioner behind it.”
On his plans to help Port Harcourt compete with Lagos, China said 2025 will meet him doing things with the youths of Rivers State to push the Port Harcourt brand in the social media and rally the traditional press to create a positive narrative of Rivers State beyond violence and political negativity.
“The Garden City has not been enjoying the best of media perception for some years now but this is the first time we have a governor committed to non-political bias in doing his work. He does not consider whether you are a member of his party or not before doing what is right. For the first time, we have a true father of the state to all, and he has been diligently following the blueprint that stakeholders developed at the last Rivers Economic and Investment Summit, making sure he is doing it without political cronyism.”
He said his company would be building the biggest estate and the best, the ‘Alesa Sustainable Smart City, to move from brand perception to brand experience so as to move Rivers State to the next level.
He appealed to entrepreneurs not to be carried away by the old perception but to join the new way. “Position yourself because there is going to be a boom. People are rushing into Port Harcourt and new entrants may take the ground. Think expansion not contraction, think investment not divestment. Else, you miss it.”
To fellow estate investors, he admonished them to gear up for regulation. “It is no longer going to be business as usual especially for land peddling and land grabbing. Try to grow up because tangible development is going to take over.
“It is no longer going to be who sells the most land but who develops the most houses. The housing deficit in the land requires effective land development strategies. Any serious land seller should grow into a housing developer because developments are going to be coming into Rivers State and a lot of people are coming into the state.”
He said those that have grown to be developers will be many times richer than those that are just starting or are mere land sellers and peddlers. People should also position themselves because all the foreign investments and local ones will take advantage of this influx.
“The value of influx is coming, so prepare and take advantage. Be one of those that are big enough to take advantage. Remaining small will not be good but grow big in your products, in your services, because the market is going to grow big.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed shock and sadness over the death of a former military governor of the State, Major-General Godwin Osagie Abbe (rtd).
Late Abbe, who hails from Edo State, was military governor of Rivers State between August, 1990 and January, 1992.
Governor Fubara described late Gen Abbe as one leader who dedicated himself to the service and wellbeing of Rivers people and humanity during his administration in the State, saying that the death of the distinguished military officer, politician and administrator was a very huge loss to the State, the Niger Delta, and indeed, the entire country, having traversed the length and breath of the nation in the cause of his military and political careers.
“On behalf of my family, the Government and good people of Rivers State, I condole with the family of the Abbes, the Edo people, and the Nigerian military on the demise of this colossus, whose contributions to the unity, peace and development of the nation are legendary.
“While we mourn his painful exit at this difficult time, we pray for the eternal repose of his soul, and urge the family to take solace in the fact that late Gen Abbe lived a fulfilled life in the service of his fatherland.”
Wife of Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, has noted with delight that Rivers children are well behaved, and has admonished them to remain supportive of their parents while striving always to make a difference wherever they find themselves.
Lady Fubara gave the counsel at the 2024 Christmas Children Party, attended by children from the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, including non-indigenes, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Christmas Children Party also witnessed the presence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who stopped over to share moments with them, walking from one canopy to another, waving at them, and at other times, shaking hands with them to leave lasting memories on them.
The Rivers First Lady pointed to the importance of the celebration of Christmas, which draws attention to the birth of Jesus Christ, demanding that people have a deep reflection of the love that is demonstrated and mission of the birth, which is to redeem mankind.
Lady Fubara recalled how she took out time to visit the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, where she appreciated God for safe delivery of children born on Christmas day while felicitating with the nursing mothers.
She also stated the valuable time spent with motherless babies when she visited the Port Harcourt Children’s Home in Borikiri, old Port Harcourt Township, and celebrated their meekness, innocence and the beauty they bring to the world.
She said, “Even today, as we continue the celebration, efforts were made to extend invitation to our children in all the 23 local government areas of our State. In doing this, children from all classes of society, including the physically challenged, have been offered the opportunity to sit together as brothers and sisters, play, eat and dance.
“Whilst contemplating the uniqueness of celebrating Christmas on a Boxing Day, steps were equally taken to provide gifts for the children who are there, and also to pray for them, a qualitative fun session that will last in their memories.”
Lady Fubara advised all children in the State to remember that Jesus came into the world to make a difference, advising that they must emulate him so that they can positively impact their families and society.
She urged them to pray fervently to God to bless and prosper their mothers, daddies, aunties and uncles to better cater to their needs.
She added, “Be humble, obedient and supportive at home. Do household chores, and don’t forget to make excellent grades in school next academic session. Children are the joy of every home, and we are glad to have beautiful, well-behaved children in Rivers State.
“Thank you all for witnessing this 2024 Children’s Party, and I pray God Almighty to protect, shield and keep you safe from all negative companies in the name of Jesus. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2025. God bless you all,” she said.
Lady Fubara expressed appreciation to her husband and Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his absolute commitment to the growth of children, and the immeasurable support that ensured that Christmas Children Party was a success.
There were performances by Virtue Dancers, Kalabari Iria dancers, Wonder Time Children of Opobo Kingdom, Children of Rivers State Council of Arts and Culture, Diseye the Poet and DJ Arnold.