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S’Court Judgment Has Ended Era Of Strongmen – Rivers Elders Council

Published

8 months ago

January 28, 2024

The Rivers State Elders Forum says last Thursday’s Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Sir Siminilayi Fubara as the Governor of the State has ended the era of strongmen in the State.
The forum, which addressed pressmen, yesterday, in Port Harcourt after an emergency meeting, said the court’s verdict would help protect strong democratic institutions.
Acting Chairman of the forum and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir. Gabriel Toby, who spoke to journalists, said it’s time for real governance as the apex court has ended electoral legal tussle.
He said,” We congratulate the governor and his deputy on their victory on various courts of laws and wish them God’s grace and guidance.
“We also wish to congratulate the Supreme Court for the verdict as it has calmed political nerves in the state and Niger Delta.”
The group said there is no victor nor vanquished as peace is germane for the development of Rivers State.
The body urged Fubara to govern with the fear of God and a large heart with the Constitution serving as his compass.
They commended the people of Rivers State for their calm disposition, advising the governor to deploy the resources at his disposal for the betterment of the state.
In the same vein, a member of the Elders Council, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said the Supreme Court’s verdict had freed Fubara from the overbearing posture of his predecessor and estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike.
The group’s leader said, “The Rivers elders are very grateful to God for touching the mind of the Supreme Court to do what is right. They have saved Rivers State and they have saved Nigeria.
“We are also grateful because the right thing is done. We have nothing against Tonye Cole. He is our son. But as it stands today we don’t want Nyesom Wike to get third term. That is what Rivers people are fighting against.
“He has spent his constitutionally recommended two terms. He should not come through the backdoor to ask for a third term. And that matter has settled. But we know that the battle starts now. Why do I say so? Wike’s dogs must be removed. If we don’t remove those dogs, they will continue to harass and intimidate the governor.”
Talking about the suit filed by the group to challenge the pro-Wike lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, Sara-Igbe said, “They Assembly members are not legitimate Assembly members. They have decamped from the party that brought them to office contrary to Section 109, 1G and 2. And the court must define what the law says.
“We ask Mr President to intervene in the matter. But he never intervened in a manner as to bring peace. Rather he escalated the matter. And we are saying Mr President has no power to give directives, but he can make peace as the Chief Security Officer. So we want to define the powers of Mr President.
“We want the court to also define whether or not Mr President has the power to wave the constitution aside or wave judicial pronouncement aside. These are interpretations we need. So we are saying that the Assembly members must go first. Let the court interpret the law. We went to a court here (Port Harcourt), the judge, a hatchet man of Wike, the matter was not before him first. The matter was assigned to another judge. But surprisingly between Thursday and Friday night, the matter was moved to him. And he messed himself up by telling Nigerians and the National Judicial Council that he is not competent to be a judge. He struck out the case when the parties are not before him.
“Rivers State is owned by the citizens of Rivers State, and as elders we have come out to defend the people of Rivers State. So we are grateful to God for answering our first question, and they will answer our second question.”
The Rivers elders have sided with Fubara amid the political crisis between him and Wike. The group is opposed to the eight-point resolution, which Fubara signed at a reconciliatory meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja in December.
The Tide also reports that the nation’s apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress challenging Fubara’s election.
The election tribunal and the Appeal Court had earlier struck out Cole’s suit for lack of merit.

News

Nigeria’s Rail Transport Generated N1.69bn In Q2 -NBS report

Published

3 days ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

The Nigerian rail system generated N1.69billionn in revenue from passengers in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting a 53.14 per cent increase compared to the N1.10billion recorded in the same period of 2023.
This data was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics in its report released yesterday.
According to the report, a total of 689,263 passengers travelled by rail in Q2, representing a growth rate of 45.38 per cent compared to 474,117 passengers in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The volume of goods transported via rail also saw a significant increase, with 143,759 tons moved in Q2 2024, up from 56,936 tons in Q2 2023. Additionally, the Nigerian Railway Corporation reported a volume of 5,940 tons of goods transported through pipelines in Q2 2024, an increase from the 2,856 tons recorded in the same period of the previous year.
Revenue from goods conveyed via rail stood at N537.36m in Q2 2024, a remarkable increase of 206.68 per cent compared to N175.22m in Q2 2023. The movement of goods through pipelines also contributed to revenue generation, with N42.08m collected in Q2 2024, compared to N12.81million in Q2 2023.
Other revenue receipts amounted to N994.68million in Q2 2024, representing a staggering increase of 5,206.68 per cent from the N18.74m recorded in the corresponding period of last year.
In the first quarter, of 2024, The Tide source reported that Nigeria spent more on servicing the debt incurred for building its railways than the revenue generated by its railway system. The country spent 2,470 per cent more on railway debt servicing than it made from revenue from rail services in the first quarter of 2024.

News

NDDC Unveils Initiative To Enhance Food Security In N’Delta

Published

3 days ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.
Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta State representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, yesterday by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta.
He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.
“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.
Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.
“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.
The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.
According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security.

News

Tinubu Shelves UNGA79 Trip To Address National Challenges

Published

3 days ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year.
In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual summit.
Tinubu “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed yesterday.
The statement is titled ‘Vice President Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly.’
It reads, “President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year.
“Therefore, the President has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.”
Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trips to China and the United Kingdom, “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” said Onanuga.
At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.
The high-level General Debate, with the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024.