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RSG Slams Sara-Igbe Over Comments On Wike …Says He’s Exploiting Ethnic Agenda For Self-Enrichment
The Rivers State Government has slammed a prominent elder statesman in the state, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, over his recent uncomplimentary statements against the person of the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Reacting to the uncanny comments, the government said that Sara-Igbe was only dancing to the gallery in order to exploit seemingly existing ethnic divisions to promote a parochial agenda designed to enlarge his pockets.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, said that “In his usual manner, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe has shown himself again as being infantile, ignorant, and pedestrian in his view on issues about the workings of state and governance”.
The statement explained that, “We have chosen, therefore, to do this reply to Sara-Igbe’s baseless allegations against the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike. The magnitude of falsehood peddled in his statement should not be ignored.
“To tact, Governor Wike had always sued for peaceful coexistence. He had created the climate for every ethnic nationality to consider themselves as one indivisible Rivers State.
“That was why, on September 12, 2022, while inaugurating the ultra-modern former Riv-Bank Insurance building in Port Harcourt, he said, ‘I have told people, let us live in peace. So many people think that if they don’t talk about us, they won’t survive. People like to use the dead of our prominent people to play politics’.
“Hours after listening to this counsel of the governor, Sara-Igbe would refuse that peace should prevail. He seemed to be a person whose survival depended on dragging the governor into everything he must think, write and discuss about. He delights playing to the gallery too, all too cheaply.
“Otherwise, what is the justification of his assertion when he alleged that Governor Wike operates a sectional and ethnic governance. Are Kalabari people not prominent in Wike’s administration? Are Ijaw people not also chief beneficiaries of the administration?
“We, therefore, strongly consider it would be a grievous error to ignore Sara-Igbe’s sinister attempt to paint a dubious picture that under the Governor Wike’s administration, the Kalabari ethnic group has been faced with the problem of alienation, and that Rivers State is a fragmented society.
“Efforts to integrate diverse ethnic groups in the interest of Rivers State has been, and remain, at the heart of the Wike’s administration endeavour to build a united and prosperous state.
“The Ijaw tribe has been and remained an important key player in the Wike’s administration. To this end, the latest vituperation by the self-appointed ‘protector’ of Kalabari nationality, does not and can never resonate well with people of Ijaw extraction.
“Sara-Igbe blinds himself to the reality he knows. The position of the deputy governor is Kalabari and Ijaw. The head of the Rivers State civil service is Ijaw. Just before the party primaries started, Kalabari, and indeed Ijaw held the post of the Secretary to the State Government.
“The Ijaw is sufficiently represented in the State’s Executive Council. If not that Sara-Igbe is suffering from chronic political tribalism and a fomenter of ethnic squabbles, does he not know about the ongoing construction work on the phase one of the multi-billion Naira Trans-Kalabari Road?
“The Trans-Kalabari Road was flagged off on June 24, 2021 by governor Wike. That road transverses several Kalabari communities and satisfies age long yearnings of Kalabari people. Other administrations paid lip service to it, but the Wike’s administration is doing it. This is a ‘Trunk A’ road and billed for inauguration before the end of 2022.
“The Wike’s administration has also rehabilitated and reconstructed hospitals, schools, roads and embarked on reclamation of vast expanse of land from the mangrove swamp.
“Some of the reclamation projects include the sand-filling of 52 hectares of land for the Abonnema people and over 18 hectares in Sara-Igbe’s home town, Kula. The commitment to accomplishing them transcends mere politics. In Asari-Toru, 18 hectares sand-filling work was done in Abalama Town, in addition to the 18 hectares reclaimed in Bakana in Degema to provide more hectares of land to the people.
“Would Sara-Igbe deny that in Akuku-Toru, the ring road with a bridge was not completed in Abonnema? The completion of that road made it easy for guests to Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs burial to ply.
“In fact, on September 9, 2022, Governor Wike inaugurated the once decrepit Community Secondary School Obu-Ama, Harry’s Town in Degema Local Government Area. More schools have been reconstructed in Bakana and Tombia towns. He also revamped the Kalabari National College, Buguma.
“Sara-Igbe must be reminded that Governor Wike intervened at various times in addressing the family feud that rose in the wake of the burial of Chief Lulu- Briggs. The Rivers State Government participated fully in that burial.
“Concerning the burial of Chief Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Governor Wike stayed away because it was politicised.
“So, why would the likes of Sara-Igbe continue to delight in championing initiatives that aimed at systematically destroying aspects of life and living by laying decency in public discourse on the platter where brutish and valueless ramblings are traded?
“Sara-Igbe’s ranting that Governor Wike hates the Kalabari people and Ijaw nation is baseless and infantile. It is intended to stir primordial sentiments that will deliver no benefits to anyone in the state.
“Saga-Igbe’s tantrum is a mere smokescreen of a desperate man wanting to exploit ethnic agenda for self-enrichment and unmerited relevance.
“Since the creation of Rivers State in 1967, the diverse ethnic groups in our state have lived in harmony, and mutual friendship has been cultivated among the various nationalities.
“While primordial sentiment has been the bane for the dearth of national patriotism, Rivers State is among the few subnational within the Nigerian federation that has achieved some measure of success in managing ethnic conflict and enjoying relative political stability.
“It is then disappointing that someone of Sara-Igbe’s status would develop a gross penchant to stir up primordial sentiment, aimed at generating mutual distrust and tension in Rivers State for his self-aggrandisement.
“We, therefore, urge Rivers people to be wary of divisive and toxic characters like Sara-Igbe, whose personalities are socially transmitted diseases”, the statement added.
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.