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Amaechi, Cole’s Plot To Plunder Rivers Resources Again Won’t Work, Wike Vows …Pledges To Continue Executing Projects Till May 29, 2023
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that the former minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, and business magnate, Tonye Cole’s plot to plunder the state’s resources again would never materialise.
Wike, who spoke at the inauguration of the Rukpakwulusi/Eliogbolo internal roads, last Saturday, said Amaechi’s criticism of the ongoing projects’ inauguration and flag off in Rivers State, smacks of envy and malice.
He noted that Amaechi, having failed to account for the $308million proceeds from the sales of the state power plants by his administration, lacks the moral rectitude to speak on the affairs of Rivers State.
“Why should we not celebrate, when you sold our gas turbine at the cost of $308million? Convert it today at even N500 to a dollar: how much will it be? What can you show for the money, certainly nothing?”
The governor urged Rivers people to be wary of the antics of the former minister who desperately wants Cole, his business partner, to become governor so that they can continue to loot the resources of Rivers State.
“All the gas turbines that Dr. Peter Odili bought, where are they today? So, you think Rivers people are foolish to see that you are bringing the person, your business partner to come and be governor so that you will continue to loot where you stopped. It will never happen.”
He advised the former minister to perish the thought that there would be a re-enactment of the 2019 foiled attempt to use the Army to rig the general election in the state in 2023.
Wike recalled that on May 27, 2015, while he was still governor-elect, Amaechi, who was then the state governor, had bragged at Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, that the incoming government would not have money to pay salaries and execute projects.
“So, today by the grace of God, we are not only paying salaries, we are not only paying pensioners, we are not only paying gratuities that he did not pay, we have gone beyond that to carrying out projects which he failed to carry out. And so, we should celebrate it; let him know that nobody is God.”
The Rivers State governor said it was disheartening that while as a federal minister, Amaechi never attracted any project to the state.
According to him, Amaechi’s supporters had begun to desert him because he lacks integrity.
“I’m not the one who said people should leave your party. We have used projects to demystify you and the Federal Government. Now know that you are a bloody liar. They appointed you as a minister, what did you bring to this state? Even in your community, Ubima, you said you are going to bring University of Transportation, is it there? You said you are going to give us narrow gauge rail line, have you given us?”
He noted that while as governor, Amaechi had promised to construct the Saapkenwa-Bori road, Trans-Kalabari road, Andoni-Opobo Unity road, Chokocho-Igbodo road, to mention but a few, but failed to deliver the projects.
“He promised Ogoni people that he is going to do Saapkenwa-Bori road, he did not do it. To the glory of God today, we have done it from Saapkenwa to Kono, dualised with streetlights; the road is not less than 25kilometres.
“Why will we not celebrate? You promised the Kalabari people, you are going to do Trans-Kalabari road, did you do it? By the grace of God, this December, we are going to commission the first phase of Trans-Kalabari road.
“Eight years in office, you said you are going to complete Andoni-Opobo Unity road. Did you do it? You ran away with the money. By the grace of God, today, we have completed the Opobo section, and we are still working on the Andoni section.”
The governor reiterated that the whole essence of governance was the advancement of the welfare of the people.
According to him, his administration was elated that the people of the two communities were happy with the construction of their internal roads.
Wike, for the umpteenth time, pledged to continue providing good governance and executing projects till the last day of his administration.
He said Rivers people had every reason to celebrate because his administration had performed excellently.
The governor advised his political adversaries who were not happy about the project commissioning to be prepared to witness such activities till the last day of his administration, and reiterated the pledge not to abandon governance.
“Good governance must show that the people are happy with the policies, programmes, and actions of the government. We are happy that the people are happy.
“I want to commend the people of these communities for supporting the indigenous contractor we used for this project.
“We are not making noise, we are happy and the people are happy with what we have used their money to do. We are going home fulfilled that we have not disappointed the people. We will continue to execute projects till our last day in office,” the governor added.
Giving the project description, the Commissioner for Works, Dr. Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, explained that the project started slightly over 12 months ago, and had been completed to scope.
“This project consists of 16 roads or streets, some of them are long streets; some of them are short streets; and all of these roads and streets are in Rukpakwulusi and Eliogbolo communities. The total length of the road is 6kilometres, and the average width of the drain is 6meters.”
“The total length of drains is 6,000metres. The nature of the road is flexible pavement, we have 150mm of stone base thickness, 50mm of binder course, and 50mm of wearing course,” the commissioner stated.
Former president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onueze Okocha, SAN, who hails from Rukpakwulusi, commended Wike for the project.
“When I came to live in the village, it was a real village. This entire place was forest and farmland, but today, it is a new layout. We thank the government of Rivers State for helping us recover some of our land that had been acquired by the Federal Government; in fact, the colonial government.”
Okocha said the land where both the Bori Camp (Army Barracks) and the Air Force Base were located in Port Harcourt belonged to his people.
According to him, “We expect them to pay us fair and adequate compensation.”
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.