Politics
LG Boss Empowers 600
The Ogu/Bolo Local Government Council has empowered over 600 persons from the 12 wards in the area and presented a brand new 16-seater speed boat with 75 horse-power Yamaha engine to the people of Wakama Ama community.
Those who benefitted from the N20,000 cash empowerment include the elderly, men, women, youths and the physically challenged.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Hon. Mary Minaseichinbo said the empowerment programme was to enable the people start some small scale business and to put food on their table as well as to make them have a sense of belonging in the Governor Nyesom Wike-led Government in the State.
Hon. Mary Minaseichinbo enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money and assured those who did not benefit to keep faith as the exercise would be a continuous one, adding that the present government has passion to put smiles on the faces of the people at the grassroots.
The Ogu/Bolo CTC Chairman urged the people to maintain the prevailing peace in the area in order to attract more government attention, pointing out that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancor, in-fighting and acrimony.
She thanked God for the opportunity and also expressed profound gratitude to the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for finding her worthy to serve her people, assuring that the people of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area would ever be grateful and continue to support him in his future endeavours.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Local government Area, Hon. Arnold Davids expressed delights with the CTC Chairman for the initiative as it was first of its kind in the area, adding that she had set a record and put smiles on the faces of the people and urged her to continue so that the people could enjoy the fruit of their labour.
Meanwhile, the Ogu/Bolo CTC Chairman, Hon. Mary Minaseichinbo has charged the people of Wakama Community to remain untied, focused and sustain their peaceful disposition in order to further attract government attention.
Minaseichinbo who made the call while inaugurating the speedboat for the community at Wakama last week said the gesture was to cushion the effect of the transportation difficulties the community faced and enjoined them to protect and make good use of the opportunity while assuring them of more amenities.
In their separate speeches, the Chairman of the community, Tamunoigbiki Jonathan, the Caretaker Committee Member representing Wakama, Hon. Nelson Obom, PDP Leaders, Hon. Idafubara Minanembo and Mrs Ruth Igbikisika hailed the CTC Chairman, for the gesture which has brought relief and succor to their transportation difficulties they were facing, and promised to be solidly behind the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike who is the leader of the party.
A grassroots organisation known as Sir Siminalayi Fubara Peace Initiative, Friends For Good Governance, has passed a confidence vote on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over his development strides in the state within a short time in office.
Apart from the numerous development projects embarked upon by the governor in the state, the body expressed delight over the recent payment of N85,000.00 minimum wage to civil servants in the State to reduce the economic burden of workers and their dependants.
Spokesperson of the organisation, Chief Felix Ologara, who addressed newsmen in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area described Governor Fubara’s administration as the most compassionate, peace-loving and labour-friendly in Nigeria.
Coordinator of the NGO, Comrade Felix Nnaa, also lauded the governor of Rivers State for staying focused on the development of the state despite the challenges by detractors of his administration.
The NGO also commended the newly elected local government chairmen in the state, particularly the chairman of Khana LGA, Hon Martin Nwigbo and his Tai counterpart, Hon Mathew Dike for modelling their leadership style after Governor Fubara’s in providing essential services to the people.
On his part, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Martins Nwigbo, who also spoke with the press assured that his administration will give priority attention to the development of Khana, particularly in providing security, economic empowerment, human capital development and restoration of power in the area.
Former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Atuboyedia Obianime, has called for a people centred governance in Nigeria.
Prof. Obianime said this at the Rivers Liberation Summit and Awards organised by the Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide in Port Harcourt.
He said projects execution are good but government must come up with policies that will create employment opportunities for the people.
The former INC president particularly urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to revive all moribund industries with the view to creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and stressed the need for the revamping of the agricultural sector in the state.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Sam Sam Jaja, said the Ijaws will never surrender their rights for any reason.
“We know where we come from and we know where we are now; we know the battle we fought and we know the battle we are still fighting and one thing is very important among us, we will never surrender our rights for any reason”, he said.
Dr Jaja said the Ijaws have been known to fight against oppression and marginalisation and commended the Ijaw Wari Initiative for complementing the INC.
“What we are doing today is to honour Ijaw sons and daughters who deserve to be honoured and of course we have one of our elderly sons to tell us what we have done in terms of pursuing leadership”, he added.
He also described the Ijaws as symbols of leadership, adding: “it starts from us and it will continue to remain with us for a long time”
Dr Jaja also declared that with an Ijaw man at the saddle of leadership in the State, the people will see a new phase of governance, adding that areas neglected will be touched, while expressing optimism that the event would equip the participants to face the challenges ahead.
In his welcome address, the president of Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide, Somina Wokoma, said the event was to “commemorate the October 30th, 2023, failed attempt to impeach our dear Governor which marked a turning point in our democratic journey”.
“As we converge on this epoch making occasion, we celebrate the triumph of democracy, people oriented leadership and the resilience of Rivers people”, he said.
John Bibor
A non- governmental organisation in Rivers State, the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force ( (NDPVF), Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, has tasked Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to urgently focus on aggressive infrastructural and human capital development projects.
This is contained in a statement released by the group in Port Harcourt shortly after her Chapter Executive Council ( CEC) meeting in Opobo Town, and signed by its Coordinator, Commander Idawari Brown; Secretary, Comrade Success Dinne Ebranga and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Lucky Ubani.
The group urged the chairmen and councillors to be proactive in the discharge of their assignment of dispensing quality service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction and admonished them to follow the leadership example of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“There is need for the Chairmen of various Councils in the state to ensure that they emulate the leadership style of the governor by building bridges of transformation, human capital development and youth inclusiveness in governance of their LGAs”, the statement said.
The group further admonished the chairmen of the various councils and their Councillors to put in their best in the leadership of their local areas for the well-being of the people.
“The people are in dire need of your contributions for better development bridges in terms of even distribution of development projects and programmes that will have direct- bearings on the people’s welfare and lives.
“They should include those who have what it takes to develop the areas through their contributions to move the area forward developmentally.
“We urge the chairmen of various councils and their councillors not to appoint anybody on political patronage in order to siphon the treasury of the councils.
“We would not tolerate this lackluster attitude from any council chairmen Councillors. The real thing should be done through those with leadership expertise and are ever ready to join forces with them to build a pleasant and virile Local Government Areas administration for posterity.
By: Bethel Toby