News
We Know Candidates Who Don’t Mean Well For Nigeria, Wike Declares …Promises To Remodel GSS, Eneka …As Ariolu Appeals To RSG To Fix SARS Road
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that some politicians canvassing for votes to win 2023 presidential election do not mean well for the country.
The governor maintained that he is in a privileged position to know better, and will reveal their identities at the appropriate time so that Nigerians can use their votes to reject them.
Wike spoke at the flag-off of internal roads at Rumuesara, Eneka town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, held last Monday.
“Some other people are busy, putting themselves together on how they will take over leadership in Nigeria to loot the remaining ones this other people have already kept.
“I’m privileged to know and at the appropriate time I’ll tell you who these people are. You need to know what is happening in Nigeria. Forget about all these people running around saying they want to rescue or save you (Nigeria). Just watch to see what is going to happen next.
“All of us should be calm concerning what is happening in PDP. In fact, nothing has happened yet. But by the grace of God, something will happen.”
Wike, pointed out that while his administration continues to flag-off and inaugurate projects for Rivers people, detractors keep sponsoring negative media campaigns against him.
The governor stated that despite such negative media comments, his administration has not relented in offering good governance to strengthen the relationship with the people of Rivers State.
“Look at us concentrating in giving our people good governance. What is good governance? Good governance is making the people to be happy. Good governance is providing infrastructure for the people. Good governance is not about party. Providing good governance is about leadership. We are here every day flagging off projects, commissioning projects, even though our tenure is coming to an end.”
Wike noted how difficult it would be for seasonal politicians who have never done anything to better the lot of Rivers electorate to come to them and solicit their votes.
“Now that I have come to Eneka to provide this basic infrastructure, I can come back to Eneka and ask you to follow me, let us go there or let us stay here. Do they have what it takes to come and talk to you? Can they come and talk to you?
“It is somebody that hears from you that you have also heard from. This one you’ve not provided anything for my people, you’ve not asked them what they want, then, you want to tell them where to vote.
“So, it is us that will come and meet you and say see where you’ll vote. And I know based on our relationship, since we have not deceived you, we have not told you lies, you will follow us at the appropriate time.”
Speaking further, Wike said Eneka fills a strategic place in his educational and political success story, which was why he could not abandon its people.
“My life, my political story cannot be complete without mentioning Eneka. Those who know me very well know that Educationally, Eneka has impacted me, politically, Eneka has impacted me. Your son, Senator John AzutaMbata was the person who sponsored me first to be chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.
“It was the Chairman of Rivers State Universal Basic Education Authority, VenFinefaceAkah, who drew my attention to the deplorable state of the roads in Rumuesara Community. I promised to construct these internal roads. Today, we are starting it, by the grace of God, we will come back to commission it in five months’ time,” the governor added.
The Rivers State governor also used the occasion to announce that Government Secondary School, Eneka would be remodelled by his administration next month.
“If there is one school that should be transformed into a standard school in this state, that school is Government Secondary School, Eneka. Just go home and sleep, what you will see in this coming month in GSS Eneka will shock you,” he said.
Wike promised that his administration will soon commence reconstruction work at the secondary school in a bid to transform it into a modern standard learning facility.
He urged those who have encroached and developed structures on the land to vacate the premises to avoid the wrath of the state government.
The governor used the occasion to rename the Igwurata-Eneka Road to Sam AzutaMbata Road, and promised that the state government would accord due recognition to the paramount ruler of Eneka before the end of his tenure in 2023.
Providing the project description, the state Commissioner for Works, Dr.DaxAlaboGeorge-Kelly, explained that the road project would be 5.3km long with approximately 9km of drains.
“This road project will be 5.3km long, out of the 5.3km, 4.7km will be purely flexible pavement with an asphaltic concrete. About 700m will be a composite pavement, that is a combination of rigid and flexible pavement because of the core geotechnical characteristics of the soil.
“The project will have approximately 9km of drains because there are areas where we will have two side drains. Where we have a minimum of 9m width, we will have two sides drains, where we have less than 8m width, we are going to have one side drains.
“The completion period for this project is 5 months and we expect that the contractor will be able to deliver as scheduled with the specified quality,” the commissioner added.
In his remarks, Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, thanked Wike for extending such road infrastructure to Eneka people, which will invariably boost socio-economic activities in the area.
Ariolu called on the Rivers State Government to intervene in the deplorable state of the SARS Road in Rukpokwu to further ease free flow of vehicular movement and improve economic activities in the area.
He said the rehabilitation of the road would reduce gridlock on the ongoing flyover construction along Rumuola-Rumuokwuta and Mgbuoba-Location Junction.
Ariolu said the SARS Road, when rehabilitated, would serve as a veritable link road to ease traffic for people living within the Rukpokwu and Eneka axis of Obio/Akpor.
He described the governor’s visit to Eneka as homecoming, adding that the community through the construction of the road would be enlisted as one of the beneficiaries of the dividends of democracy that the governor has given to the people of the State.
According to Ariolu, the chronicle of Governor NyesomWike’s educational attainment cannot be complete without mentioning Government Secondary School, Eneka, and entire Eneka town.
He explained further that the school in no small measure contributed to the growth of the Rivers State governor in the political affairs of Nigeria, adding that the construction of the Sam AzutaMbata link road was deserving of the Eneka people.
Ariolu, who expressed joy over the construction of the road, commended Wike for the tactical display of his wrestling prowess during his days at Government Secondary School, Eneka.
Appreciating the governor’s efforts, Ariolu explained that the road construction would boost economic activities in the area as well as ameliorate the perennial flooding that has bedevilled the community.
The managing director of L & D Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the project, thanked Rivers State Government for finding them worthy of such task.
He assured the governor that the project would be completed in line with the specifications.
The groundbreaking ceremony had in attendance top government functionaries, political leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
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.