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Help Govt Fight Crude Oil Theft, Fubara Tasks Monarchs …Says Economic Sabotage Inimical To Dev

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2024

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that it is the duty of everybody, especially traditional rulers, to join efforts together to ensure that there is stability and unfettered progress of Nigeria.

He has also advised traditional rulers to take charge of their domains and ensure that they make life difficult for ill-guided youths involved in acts of economic sabotage in their various communities.

Governor Fubara gave the charge while declaring open the 117th/118th Combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at their Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The Governor maintained that it should be the concern of everybody to support and see Nigeria progress as a stable country while advancing economically, adding that this is possible only when there is high production of crude oil, as the mainstay of the national economy.

He said: “I want to see a different society from this hour. The Federal Government is doing everything to see that our cryde oil production level increases. But every day, we are having issues of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation and all the associated problems.

“All these people that are carrying out these evil acts, they’re not coming from the moon, they live in our communities, we know them. I am charging this council, as a first step, take charge of your communities.

“If there is any information that you need to share with us, share with us. In the overall, we need our country to progress. We need our country to be stable. We need our country to grow economically. It is through only one means: our oil production.”

The Governor insisted: “We are charging you, to please go back and take charge of your communities. I assure you of our support. If there is anything that we need to do, if it means government sending you some little support financially to create your own vigilante to help, we will do it.”

Governor Fubara expressed delight and gratitude to God that the council is still existing despite the protracted political travail confronting the State and his administration.

The Governor explained that what he is doing is devoid of politics but a performance of statutory duty of government, especially in the appointment of a new chairman to steer the affairs of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

He said, “There is nothing new that has happened. The immediate past chairman served out his tenure, and the tenure is usually a one year duration.

“It is at the discretion of the Governor to extend such tenure. I believe, from my own assessment, there was no reason to extend it, but rather to bring in fresh blood that can bring the council together.

“And what we did, we did in good faith because our communities, our people are important to us. I want to commend the chairman who is barely three months in office, to have been able to put this meeting together; it shows leadership.”

Governor Fubara said this is the first time after the appointment of Eze Chike Worlu Wodo that he will be addressing the council, and charged the new chairman, who understands the current situation, to lead the council aright.

He said, “I want you to lead this council with the fear of God. I want you to lead this council with the understanding that you are dealing with people that are independent, and feeding their own families.

“So, you need to have a spirit and heart of accommodation and tolerate them. Make your point very straight when you talk to them. I strongly believe that they are matured enough to give you the required support.”

The Governor emphasised: “So, at this point, I want to charge everyone of you that is here; God at this time has made you leaders of our communities, leaders of our towns, leaders of sections.

“So, know that this appointment that you have is not a mistake. It is God that gave you the chance. Make good use of it.

“Continue to make peace the most important agenda of your reign and locality. It is only on that, that it will now reflect in our State.

“We need total peace in our State. We cannot develop in the face of crisis. We can only improve when every person is living peacefully.”

Governor Fubara said he has been furnished with a comprehensive list of names of all traditional rulers of First Class, Second Class and Third Class totalling over 150.

The Governor explained that the state government cannot take in one block the purchase of their official vehicles, going by that number, and urged them to consider the option of monetizing it because most of them own their cars already.

In his address, the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, used the opportunity to thank Governor Fubara for maintaining peace in the State in the face of the unwarranted political crisis orchestrated by selfish and overzealous politicians.

Eze Wodo, who is the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State, urged the Governor not to fall into the traps of detractors by confronting their violence with violence, which he noted, will only serve the interest of those selfish politicians.

He said, “All of us know that those that are over-heating the polity have one aim: to make the State ungovernable so as to make it ripe for a declaration of State of Emergency. Please, Sir, advise your supporters to avoid every invitation to violence.

“May I also appeal to our people on all sides of the political divide to remember that we have nowhere else to call home apart from Rivers State. So, we must not allow our personal interest to destroy the peace, stability and growth of our State.”

Eze Wodo enjoined members of the council: “As traditional rulers, we owe our State the duty of making it peaceful by cautioning our children against violent acts.

“We, therefore, cannot caution anybody if we allow ourselves become overly partisan. We will then lose the moral authority to reprimand those causing trouble when we take sides. So, I say, let us all work assiduously to maintain peace in Rivers State.”

On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Engr. Charles Amadi, noted with concern the disturbing development and progressive degradation of values in the various communities, requiring focused attention on the roles of the traditional rulers in Rivers State.

Engr Amadi said there has been hope all along that traditional rulers in the State will pull their various domains through with tenable innovations that will stem the dwindling social decay in the various communities.

He said, “But, by close examination of the problems in the various communities of Rivers State, compared with the activities in the various settlers of the various communities, we found out that we are on the path of diminishing returns with many of the communities cum settlers, plunging into crisis.

“It has become increasingly obvious that we must examine the roles of the Rivers State traditional rulers in other to improve efficiency and curtail the crisis in our various communities.

“However, I strongly commend those traditional rulers of Rivers State that have displayed their good roles effectively and efficiently in the various communities that yielded relative peace that has ushered in good governance in Rivers State.”

Engr Amadi said the quarterly meeting, therefore, presents a time for traditional rulers to resolve on how to harness the potentials that will engender improvements of living conditions and overall development of their various communities.

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Stop Creating Enmity, It’ll Hurt You, Fubara Tells Police …Donates 100 Vehicles To Boost Response To Emergencies

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advised partisan police officers who abandon their core professional responsibilities to pursue vested political interests to know that the enmity they fuel and eventually create will hurt them in the long run.
Governor Fubara maintained that police officers are engaged and trained as professionals to protect lives and property while contributing to the desired peace in the State as a patriotic duty.
The Governor insisted that it is, therefore, an aberration for any of them to think that protecting any particular individual or being one-sided in the political affairs to the detriment of the State amounts to professionalism.
Governor Fubara gave the advice at the inauguration and formal handover of 100 operational vehicles acquired by his administration to the Rivers State Police Command at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Governor said: “I need to say this, so that you will understand. When you (Disu) came into Rivers State, and I had my encounter with you, I requested for only one thing: That I will never ask you to do what is wrong, so do what is right. Protect the lives and property of Rivers people. Don’t be partisan.
“We have seen those people that were partisan; how they ended. And, I am saying it here, to every one of you that is an officer that is being partisan: you will see how you will end.
“So, work in such a way that when your name is mentioned in this State, or your children come to this State, you won’t be scared. This is important.”
Governor Fubara urged them to forget about the current ongoing political anxiety in the State, because, according to him, nothing will last forever.
He charged them to conduct their operations as real professionals that have been so trained so that they can be effective in the responsibility of protecting lives and property of people in Rivers State.
Governor Fubara said: “It is not to protect any individual. It is not to be one-sided in the political affairs of the State. Politics will come and it will go.
“The enmity you are creating, for those of you that are partisan, will live with you forever. So, I want to advise you, I have said it before, and I am saying it again: I will never ask any of you to do what is wrong. My appeal is: stand on the ethics of your profession, protect lives and property of Rivers people. Be fair to all.”
Commenting on the donated vehicles, Governor Fubara said it is an achievement of the Commissioner of Police whose idea it was to make such operational vehicles available for his Command.
Governor Fubara explained that what he had originally planned was to provide very high-profile vehicles to all the security agencies in the State to enhance their operational capabilities much more.
He said: “But, the CP advised that he did it sometime in Lagos State; that we should adopt that model by acquiring these vehicles you are seeing here: the Toyota Sienna, Camry and Collora, and I bought into the idea.
“And why are we doing this? We discovered that the response time to crime scenes; launching attacks against acts of criminality, were slow because you (police) lack mobility.
“And what we just did was a first phase of support to the Nigerian Police. We also intend to come again to give you other sophisticated vehicles to support what you are doing,” the Governor added.
Governor Fubara assured that as a State Government, his administration will continue to support the police because, as he put it, they are worthy friends to have since criminals cannot be friends to covet.
He emphasised: “So, we need to accommodate you. We need to tolerate you. We need to work with you so that at the end, people can live freely, move freely, and do their businesses freely in Rivers State.
“My Honourable CP, like I said before privately, I am saying it again: I want to appreciate you. We will give you all the support to succeed. I will give you all the support that will help to build your name into better reckoning when you leave here. I am very sure God will elevate you positively,” he added.
In his opening remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the event as a significant milestone in the ongoing commitment towards achieving safety and security of the State.
CP Disu expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for his unwavering support to the State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, which has translated in their dedication to serving the welfare of the various communities.
He said: “I stand before you filled with gratitude as we gather to commission these 100 vehicles, a generous donation from our esteemed Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“This act of generosity, not only enhances our operational capacity, but also reflects your deep concern for the citizens of the State.
“These vehicles will empower our officers, enabling them to respond more swiftly and effectively to emergencies, and enhance our community policing efforts. With your support Sir, we are reinforcing our resolve to combat crime and uphold the rule of law.”
CP Disu, on behalf of the entire Rivers State Police Command, thanked Governor Fubara for his unparalleled leadership, and commitment to good governance in the State.
He assured that, together, the Police Force will continue to work tirelessly, and perform its professional duties in keeping Rivers State safe and secured for everybody.

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New Pump Price Of Petrol Worrisome, Unfair -NECA D-G

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) says the new hike in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, is worrisome and unfair.
The Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde said this in a statement while reacting to the new hike in pump price of PMS in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source recalls that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) had said that with effect from Sept. 3, the new pump price of PMS would be N897 per litre.
According to Oyerinde, the new pump price of petrol is not only worrisome but also unfair.
“We had expected that the government will leverage on the momentum created by the completion of the Dangote refinery and the planned commencement of operation of the Port-Harcourt refinery.
“This is in order to clear the obvious self-inflicted pain on Nigerians and progressively reduce the pump price of petrol. This seems not to be the case.
“This new pump price could be seen as making Nigerians to pay for the crass inefficiency in the NNPCL,” he said.
He said that rather than address the fundamentals that have made Nigeria a net importer of petrol, even when we have four refineries, government have continued to inflict pain on Nigerians.
According to him, the government is, advertently, contributing to the increase in cost of doing business.
“We advise that government should have a rethink and do all that is necessary to address the continuous impoverishment of Nigerians and incapacitation of organised businesses,” he said.

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China, Nigeria Pledge To Strengthen Ties

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2024

The Tide

President Xi Jinping has declared his readiness to work closely with President Bola Tinubu to fully unleash the exemplary roles of China-Nigeria diplomatic friendship and advance China-Africa cooperation.
Xi disclosed this in Beijing at the meeting with Tinubu, who was on State Visit to the Great Hall at the invitation of the Chinese President.
The meeting is in view of the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to hold from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6 in Beijing, China.
During their meeting, Xi stated that since the past half of a century that China and Nigeria established their diplomatic ties both parties have always treated each with mutual understanding.
Xi said, “We have found the path of seeking collective strength, unity and win-win cooperation, until this point China and Nigeria as major developing countries have strengthened strategic cooperation and set new vistas for China-Africa Relations in the new era.
“This has further spearheaded common progress among global South countries; I propose elevating our bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“At the upcoming 2024 FOCAC summit, we will jointly take stock of the experience of China-Africa friendship and advance the building of high level of China-Africa community shared future.
“China and Nigeria alphabet worked closely together under the FOCAC framework and jointly carried out strategic cooperation projects.
“I am ready to work with Mr President, to fully unleash the exemplary role of China-Nigeria cooperation, to advance China-Nigeria and China-Africa relations toward a new and greater achievement.”
Responding, Tinubu expressed appreciation to Xi, saying the visit marked his second visitation to the country.
According to him, the first time was during his tenure as the then governor of Lagos and now, as president.
“This is a very important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa as the Chairman of ECOWAS.
“China and Nigeria relations have indeed lasted for over a half a century and will continue to be strengthened to advance our trade and economic development.
“Nigeria has a very great potential as the country with largest population in Africa and biggest in the area of young population that can drive the economic growth.
“You have upgraded the relationship to what is more than just strategic in addressing developmental problems.
“The strategic partnership should result in our regional development, peace stability and security in West Africa, which has become crucial,” Tinubu said.
He said that Nigeria was in the path to ensure economic reforms, adding that when fully implemented, such reform would engender sustainable growth.
“We have recognised the need to reform our economic programme and taken strategic measures to realise such goals.
Highpoint of the meeting was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Belt and Road Initiative projects, news exchange cooperation, cooperation on television, among others.
President Tinubu was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Sen. Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna and Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara, among others.