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…Warns Against More Attacks On Integrity Govs ….Tells Atiku To Call PDP PCC To Order Wike’s Projects Laced With Poverty …Reduction Contents -Mimiko
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has urged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to call to order members of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the party, and stop them from attacking the G5 governors.
Wike warned that any further attack would attract the wrath of the Integrity Group, threatening that together with the G5; they would not hesitate to strike back.
The Rivers State governor gave the warning, last Monday, at the flag-off of the Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East-West Link Road in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
Former governor of Ondo State, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko, performed the flag-off.
Wike stated that the G5 governors were lovers of peace, and believe that all party members should embrace peace so that together, they can work to secure electoral victory for the party in the 2023 elections.
“Now, what I want to tell the presidential candidate of PDP is: we need peace. We want all of us to be together for the party to win election. But let me say it clearly: if your boys continue to attack the G-5 (governors), continue to attack the leaders of our party, we will strike back. If anybody, again, dares in the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, to insult the PDP governors (G-5), insult our leaders of Integrity Group, we’ll fight back. Enough is enough.”
The governor also said it was ludicrous for persons who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and abandoned the PDP at its trying moment, to dictate to him and his associates what to do in the party.
“We want peace. All we want is equity, fairness and justice. Nobody should take us for granted. I cannot understand people who just left APC two days ago, two weeks ago, are talking about PDP that we stayed and suffered to build. Even if anybody will talk about us, not these miscreants”
Wike described the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, YakubuDogara, as a man who cannot stand by his word.
The governor remarked that soon, he would reveal content of discussion both Dogara and the former Secretary to the Federal Government,BabachirLawal, had with him at his residence when they visited.
“At the appropriate time, I will talk about how Dogara and Babachir visited me, and what we agreed. You know what I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I will challenge them for a debate.”
He recalled how Dogara had evaded an appointment they were to have, and surreptitiously left the PDP to join the APC.
“Dogara was to see me. Unknown to me, he gave me an excuse, and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President MuhammaduBuhari that he has gone to APC.”
Speaking further, Wike reiterated that the Executive Order 21 was still in force in the state to protect public facilities.
He remarked that people had gone to misrepresent the intent of Order 21 before the Inspector General of Police, claiming that his administration was preventing other political parties from campaigning in the state.
Wike told political parties wanting to hold their events within government facilities and schools, to apply and meet the terms.
He said those who were threatening to disobey the Executive Order of the government should be prepared to bear the consequences.
The Rivers State governor explained that the request for the construction of the road was made by PDP political leaders from Eleme who were desirous for the development of their community.
Wike urged the people of Eleme to thwart the senatorial ambition of former Nigerian Ambassador to The Netherlands, Hon Orji Ngofa, who hails from there for his gross failure to attract any dividends of democracy to the area.
The governor assured the people that PDP governorship candidate, Sir SiminialayiFubara, and others, when elected, would move the state forward in terms of development.
Performing the flag-off, former governor of Ondo State, Dr.OlusegunMimiko, described the project delivery mantra of Wike as phenomenal.
The project in focus, he noted, was part of the different and impressive dimensions in which Wike had continued to deliver massive infrastructure to drive development both in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state.
Mimiko, yet again, commended the tremendous strides made by Wike in infrastructure and human capital development.
He said the projects executed by Wikewere patterned in a way that they can create jobs and reduce poverty in the state.
“I am happy to be invited for the fourth time in the last one year for project commissioning and flag-off in Rivers State. I was here on December 9, 2021, to commission the Rumuola Flyover, and again, on September 5, 2022, to flag-off the Azikiwe-Iloabuchi Road. It is interesting that project commissioning and flag-off activities have not ceased in the state since then.
“There is no question about the fact that there is poverty reduction content to Governor Wike’s road projects. Your commitment to human capital development is also commendable.
“When the commissioner for works was describing the project, he said it is 10.3kilometre-long with about 8metres wide. I asked: could this huge project be completed in six months? But I have no doubt because Wike has maintained the record of completing projects in a short time.It is also evident in the way the people are rejoicing over the project; it is obvious they have no doubt about its completion too,” he added.
“The practical manner in which Governor Wike’s focused leadership has enhanced the value of Rivers people, has earned them respect across the land.
“It is that his integrated infrastructure development one of the greatest catalysts for equitable, bottom-up economic growth. This is inclusive growth; the type of growth that addresses rural poverty in its practicality; not the type that emanates from tortured statistics and dubious metrics.”
Mimiko emphasised that agitation for responsible management of the country’s diversity, which was at the root of what Wike represents in Nigeria’s politics today, was not a North vs South issue.
He said the clamour for equity in politics brings to the fore the place of identity in a multi-ethnic polity like Nigeria.
According to him, to suggest that identity can be discounted in such a context iwas to be untruthful.
“It is actually a patriotic call for unity based on fairness. Yes, it certainly is not an end in itself, but it is a necessary route to national cohesiveness and inclusivity. It is, indeed, the ultimate destination of responsible leadership and a pan-Nigeria responsive followership – inevitable partners, as it were, in the drive towards comprehensive socio-economic development!”
Providing the project description, the Commissioner for Works, Dr.DakorinimaAlaboGeorge-Kelly, said the Indorama-Agbonchia-Ebubu-Ogale-East-West Link Road was a landmark project.
“We are here for the flag-off the construction of a landmark project. This project is 10.3kilometre-long, it will have drains on both sides, making it a total 20.6kilometres length of drains. The size of the drains is 1metre by 1.2metres cross-sectionally, 150millimetres thickness of wall, and 150millimetres base concrete.
“It will have 12 culverts at various sections; we are going to do a very serious soil replacement between 500millimetres and 1.2metres height. The road is going to have an average width of 8metres because we expect a lot of vehicular movements on the road when completed.
“We are going to have 150millimetres thickness of stone base materials, 050 compacted. 60millimetres thickness of binder course, and 40millimetres thickness of wearing course,” the commissioner stated.
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.