Politics
Stay In Your Areas, Gov Wike Tells Council Chairmen
The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike has again directed chairmen of the twenty- three Local Government Areas to reside in their various areas and not to operate from Port Harcourt, the state capital or any other area outside their local government.
By so doing, the governor said the council bosses would be abreast of the situation of things, especially security, in their various areas.
The Rivers State Chief Executive gave the order last Thursday, during the swearing, in ceremony of the local government council chairmen in Government House, Port Harcourt.
He expressed regret that most council bosses in the state abandoned their various LGAs only to live and operate from hotels in Port Harcourt.
“ Stay in your council areas. Don’t stay in hotels and in Port Harcourt. If you’re not at home, how do you know about the security situation in your local government ? Security is key “, he said.
Governor Wike who charged the council chairmen to pay proper attention to issues of security in order to stem security breaches in their various councils , stressed the need for them to establish robust working relationship with both the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and traditional rulers in their domain.
The Governor also warned them against embarking on needless travels outsiders the state and the country without officially notifying the state government.
Another major issue , last week in Brick House, was the anti-open grazing position of the Southern Governors. Wike disclosed the intention of his administration to forward to the Rivers State House of Assembly, an anti-open grazing bill, aimed at protecting farmlands and farmers.
“ So that everybody must understand it , it’s clear without any hesitation, we must do it to protect our farms, to protect our women, to protect our youths, so that nobody will go and kill them”, he said last Wednesday, at the inauguration of the Isaiah Odoli/ Omerelu streets in New GRA , Port Harcourt.
Last week witnessed the inauguration of more projects executed by the Governor Wike administration. They include: the 21km Odufor- Akpoku- Umuoye Road in Etche Local Government Area, nine reconstructed streets— Nzimiro, Herbert Macaulay , Amassoma , Arochukwu , Atako, Ogoja , Akure , Yola and Chinwo in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, and the Community Secondary School Eteo, in Eleme Local Government Area as well as the Community Secondary School Obeakpu, Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area.
The Rivers State Governor called on the Federal Government to expedite action towards the completion of the abandoned East-West Road considering its economic importance to the nation.
He described as unacceptable, the Federal Government’s continued neglect of the road, particularly the Eleme axis where the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Port Harcourt Refinery and Onne Seaport are situated.
“ They are taking us for granted because we have nobody. God in his infinite mercy will give us somebody. The kind of treatment we are receiving from this Federal Government is unacceptable”, said Governor Wike during the inauguration of the Community Secondary School Eteo, in Eleme Local Government Area, last Friday.
Stressing that the project inauguration and flagging off was not limited to the road , Governor Wike explained that it also focused on other sectors as health, education etc. The construction of the Community Secondary School Eteo in Eleme and the Secondary School Obeakpu, Ndoki in Oyigbo were aimed at increasing access to quality education for the people.
The Governor appealed to the teachers and students of the schools to utilise the facilities provided by the state government and make sure that the schools are protected.
Inaugurating the Community Secondary School Obeakpu, the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu hailed the achievements of the Rivers State Governor .
“ Governor Wike remains a role model, worthy to be emulated. I advise other governors to come to Port Harcourt to see what Gov ernor Wike is doing”, Mantu said.
The plot by the Federal Government to regulate or outrightly ban social media attracted the attention of the Rivers State Governor, last week, as he described the plot as hypocritical.
He argued that the APC led Federal Government wants to use it’s disagreement with Twitter as a false premise to suppress criticism of the administration’s appalling handling of the nation’s affairs through the dubious regulation of social media, even when it used the same social media to tell lies against the past government under Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
Gov Wike attended the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held last Monday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. He also attended a Special Thanksgiving Mass in honoure of the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem in Jos, the Plateau State Capital, last Saturday.
By: Chris Oluoh
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