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Resist Attempt To Sabotage Projects In Your Communities, Wike Tasks Youths
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has urged youths in the state to resist any attempt by disgruntled persons to sabotage government infrastructural projects in their domain.
The governor said with the ongoing flag-off and inauguration of various projects ranging from roads, schools, hospitals in the rural areas of the state, he has been able to dispel the misleading propaganda by the opposition that his infrastructural projects are only limited to Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor councils.
Wike made this assertion during the flag off 11.6-kilometre Omerelu internal roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area, last Monday.
He stated that the flag off is a fulfillment of the campaign promise he made to the people of Omerelu when he was contesting for the position of the governor of the state.
“You promised me that when the election comes, that you will stand by us that you will vote for us. Indeed, you voted for us. So, having fulfilled part of your own promise, we must also fulfill part of our own promise.”
The governor regretted that despite one of the most influential commissioners in the immediate past administration being an indigene of Omerelu community, that administration heartlessly neglected the community.
“I have said the essence of politics is not about the money you make and put in your pocket. The essence of politics is what you are able to attract to your people. I cannot be in government, I cannot be close to government and then I cannot attract one infrastructure to my community. Can one man feed everybody? Is it possible? If they give you all the billions and you put in his pocket that does not mean the community is rich.”
Wike, who expressed concern that a community like Omerelu in this age lack access roads, urged the youths to resist any attempt by some unscrupulous persons to sabotage the road construction and other government projects in the area.
He explained that with ongoing flag-off and inauguration of projects in all the 23 local government areas of the state, he has been able to dismiss the opposition reprehensible propaganda that his administration has neglected the riverine and rural parts of the state.
“We don’t believe in telling lies in social media. For us, seeing is believing. Is there construction going on in Omerelu today? Are we giving you excuses? Are we telling you stories? Are we not doing what we promise you? PDP is the only party that has shown to Nigerians that when we say something, we do it.”
Wike directed the Commissioner of Works to immediately visit Omagwa and Igwuruta communities, and measure their internal roads to enable government award contract for their construction.
The former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, who flagged off the Omerelu internal roads, commended Wike for his massive infrastructural development drive across the entire state.
Omehia said it was regrettable that the previous administration, for inexplicable reasons decided to neglect Omerelu which is a strategic gateway community in the state.
He urged the community to watch over the project by cooperating with the contractor and ensure that the roads are completed on schedule.
The Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi while providing the project description, informed that the project is for the construction of a total of 11.6km of road ways, 6meter and 8meter wide depending on the axis, and 16.6km of drains.
Tasie-Amadi said the project will be funded vide an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO), meaning that contract payments are made directly to the contractor by the state’s bankers, without the need for bureaucracy, on a given date every month for the duration of the project.
“Upon completion, not only will Omerelu community wear a new look, the entire populace will be better of whilst enjoying all the attendant benefits of good road and transportation access.”
The Chairman of MCC, Senator John Mbata, commended the Rivers State Government for the financial arrangement to fund the project, and assured that the roads will be done according specification and completed on schedule.
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.