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Our Achievements Propelled By Wike, Nwanosike Insists
Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Engr Samuel Nwanosike has attributed his successes to the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, for charging him and other council chairmen to deliver dividends of democracy to their people.
Nwanosike made this known at Omagwa during the commissioning of the 1,000-capacity seating town hall built by his administration for the Omagwa, last Monday.
The commissioning ceremony was performed by the Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja.
Nwanosike said, “Sir, we have a leader in Rivers State who is not just providing infrastructure for the people of Rivers State but he is building young men and women across the 23 local governments and 319 wards in Rivers State because he understands that leadership is transient, and when a set of leaders move up, vacuum should not be created. He has made us to understand that you do not just go and make promises because you believe politicians should make promises and deceive people to get into public office. He believes that when you make promises, do everything to fulfil them. The people have given us the opportunity to manage their resources, so we must provide results in the forms of dividends of democracy to justify the confidence reposed in us as leaders.”
He asserted that all the other local government chairmen were working on the same page in terms of delivering dividends of democracy to their people at the third tier.
Nwanosike praised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governments across the nation for delivering dividends of democracy to the people, saying that All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal and state governments have failed woefully.
“Today, the APC-led administration has borrowed more than what we can imagine as a people. So, they have not only destroyed the security architecture, they have destroyed the rule of law because this Federal Government does not obey any law in Nigeria. They don’t obey court orders”, he said.
Nwanosike urged the public not to worry themselves again because PDP was about to give them a leader who would manage the country properly.
According to him, “Our father, we are happy that time is a healer of all wounds. We have told our people not to worry, by October 30 to 31, the Peoples Democratic Party will elect a leadership at the national level to pilot the affairs of the party round the 774 local governments in Nigeria and provide true leadership that will be able to manage our diversities and resources”.
The Ikwerre LG chairman said that the person eminently qualified to lead Nigeria has been found in Rivers State, saying that he is Governor Nyesom Wike.
He clarified that Wike has been able to manage Rivers State, which is a mini-Nigeria with people of different languages, culture and religion, adding that he has delivered numerous projects in the state which prompted the vice president to name him ‘Mr Project’.
Nwanosike pleaded with the monarch to lead a delegation to Wike and beg him to come and rescue Nigeria by agreeing to become the president of Nigeria come 2023.
He praised staff of Ikwerre LGA for supporting him to work for the people.
“Today is a wonderful day. When I was coming into this arena, I saw love, I saw appreciation, I saw joy and smile in the faces of Omagwa people. In my culture, my royal majesty, when you come home and your people lay on the floor this expensive george for you to walk upon, that means you have achieved a great feat.
“This feat wouldn’t have been possible without the civil servants headed by the HLGA, Dr Mrs Nne Okah, the treasurer of council, the Head of Personnel Management, council engineer and all other civil servants who said enough is enough, let’s work for the people of Ikwerre Local Government”, Nwanosike said.
The project commissioning is one of the activities lined up to mark 100 days in office of the second tenure of Nwanosike.
While commissioning the 1,000-capacity seating hall built for traditional rulers by Nwanosike in Omagwa, the Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, described the project as marvellous, and urged other council chairmen to emulate the Ikwerre LG chairman.
Douglas Jaja said, “What we are seeing here is marvellous in our eyes. What we have heard too is something we have to take home, is something we should ask other chairmen of local governments to emulate”.
He stated that Nwanosike was one of the chairmen that stand out like a colossus in the affairs of local governments in Nigeria.
“I know that he is man who has touched the lives of everybody. The traditional rulers have asked me to thank him very much because of what he has done in this local government. He has touched lives”, he added.
In his welcome speech, the Councillor representing Ward 9 at Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, Hon Samuel Oboni, said that Nwanosike has done more than enough for the people of the ward, saying that they would continue to stand with him.
While making their solidarity speeches, the Leader of PDP in Ward 9, Hon K. K. Aribodor; the President of National Union of Omagwa Students, Comrade Joe Moses; Mrs Rachel Dan-Wachukwu, amongst others; noted that Nwanosike was a worthy son who has brought development to his people, saying that their happiness and joy knew no bounds.
The commissioning was witnessed by the Vice Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Mrs Rejoice Ifeoma Nyenwe; the wife of Ikwerre LGA Chairman, Mrs Silver Nwanosike; the member representing Ikwerre Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Anslem Oguguo; the Leader of Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, Hon Nwobuisi Chikwe-Tasie; Rivers State PDP Women Leader, Hon Mirian Ogbonna; members of Ikwerre LGA Government Recognised Traditional Rulers, Owho holders, opinion leaders, political leaders, councillors, political appointees, amongst others.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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.