News
We’re Ready For Voting Revolution, Wike Declares …As Rivers PDP Begins Grassroots Campaigns, Monday …Gov Leads Party To Deliver All Candidates
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that voting revolution would be one of the strategies Rivers electorate shall deploy in the 2023 general election to ensure that haters of the state fail at the polls.
Wike spoke at Obodhi-Ozochi Junction, venue for the flag-off of Obodhi-Ozochi Road/Bridge construction in Ahoada West Local Government Area, last Wednesday.
The governor explained that the voting revolution was to ensure that the Consolidation Team that would be headed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sir. Siminialayi Fubara, was elected.
He disclosed that the PDP in the state would commence its campaign by Monday in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
The governor said it would be in the interest of the people of the state to vote for the PDP governorship, national and state legislative candidates in order to consolidate on the gains of the past seven years.
According to him, the state would suffer stagnation, if any opposition party was erroneously voted into power.
Wike urged voters in Ekpeye land to be ready and be part of the voting revolution, with the same excitement shown as they received the democratic dividends delivered by his administration in the area.
The Rivers State governor recalled how some of their sons like the Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie; local government chairmen, Hon Hope Ikiriko and Benjamin Eke, amongst others, had supported his bid to become governor in 2015.
They believed in his course, he said, and today, they were delighted that they are part of the government, and were attracting development to communities in Ekpeye land.
Wike, particularly, thanked God for enabling him change the development narrative for communities as they had not witnessed government’s presence.
According to him, Ehie was the first to notify him of Ozochi that has never been linked by road to any neighbouring town.
The governor frowned at the non-execution of the contract for the reconstruction of Government Secondary School in Okarki by Ekpeye sons, even when the state government had paid 100percent of the contract sum to the contractors.
Wike, however, announced that his administration would re-award the project to another company and ensure its completion.
The Rivers State governor warned youths in the area against attacking road construction workers, as government would not hesitate to discontinue the project.
Also awarded by the governor was the contract for the construction of Eleume-Oshiobele Road.
Wike further pronounced government’s recognition for the paramount rulers of Ogbogolo and Odiokwu communities in Ahoada West.
The governor frowned at the King of Igbu Ukpata, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, for his recent activities that clearly mark him out to have shifted his political interest.
He said his administration, which recognised and upgraded the traditional stool upon which Eze Felix Otuwarikpo sits, would not tolerate the situation in which it would be used to stage a political fight against the state government.
In his description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said no vehicle has ever driven on land into the two benefiting communities.
This construction work, he noted, would provide asphalted road of 11.2KM in length that would have 100milimeter pavement thickness with 200meters’ long, 10span bridge.
The work, handled by SETRACO Nigeria Limited, he said, would be completed in eight months.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it was now ready for what it describes as “the good fight”.
The party, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, by the Director, Directorate of Publicity and Communications of the PDP Campaign Council, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, said all was now set for the party’s outdoor campaigns.
“Early in the week, the PDP in Rivers State released its official campaign time-table. We have barely four days to go to the commencement of the outdoor campaign of the PDP.
“Beginning from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area on January 16, we shall go from local government to local government to showcase our candidates and what the PDP will do for Rivers people in the next four years under SiminialayiFubara, flagbearer of the PDP in Rivers State.”
Nwuke noted that the battle ahead was one between darkness and light, empty promises and promises fulfilled.
“Let no one deceive Rivers people: This is a fight between light and darkness; a fight between empty promises and promises fulfilled; a fight between deceitful lies and a great will on the part of our leaders to serve the people”, the statement emphasised.
Rallying the people and its members, the campaign council emphatically declared:”It is, therefore, time to gird our loins for the good fight, time to roll up our sleeves, and time to put our hands on the plough, in a determined effort to further uplift the pace of development in our state along a defined path that puts the people first and selfish personal interests, last.
“It is time to enter into another social contract with our people, and time to execute a new understanding that works for all through the consolidation of efforts that are rapidly shaping the future of the Rivers State.
“We urge all lovers of our great state, all who are born in our dear state, who reside in our urban and semi urban areas, who reside in our local government areas and our local communities, to turn out enmasse to receive our resourceful, ebullient and dynamic leader, Governor NyesomWike, and all other leaders of our great party on the campaign trail as we embark on a journey that we believe, will end ultimately in victory by the special grace of God”, Nwuke remarked.
“Given what has happened in the state in the last seven years and what is still going on today in terms of the execution of well-thought out development programmes at the grassroots”, the campaign council pointed out, “nobody who has a pure and discerning heart can be in any doubt” about the “capacity of the Rivers PDP to take the state to a new threshold of progress and growth.
“As a responsible and focused political party, experienced in the delivery of good governance, we are prepared to take our message of economic prosperity, social transformation and political consolidation to all nooks and crannies of Rivers State.
“We are similarly ready to share our message of great hope, and outstanding achievements of the Wike administration that eyes can see, with the good people of Rivers State.
“By the grace of God, the report card, eminently earned by the performing governor of Rivers State, adjudged the best in the country, has been well received by detribalised Nigerians and all true Rivers people.
“Rivers State is PDP, PDP is Rivers State. It is on record that successive PDP administrations in Rivers State have worked tirelessly to deliver dividends of democracy in pursuit of a common vision that we share with the people”, 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.