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Don’t Victimise Anyone, Promote Peace, Fubara Tasks Monarchs …As Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre Kings Receive Staff Of Office,
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has admonished traditional rulers not to use their privileged positions to victimise their opponents and those who did not support them during the process of ascension to their ancestral thrones but see themselves as fathers and kings to all without prejudice.
The Governor urged the royal fathers to work with all sections of their subjects on their domains with fatherly heart in order to promote peaceful coexistence, harmony and enduring development.
He, therefore, urged them to discard feelings of animosity, and resist the inclination to undo anybody for whatever reason in their domains but rather courageously carry everybody along with a heart of forgiveness.
Governor Fubara also challenged the monarchs to partner with the State Government to ensure peace and accelerated development in the State and their communities.
The Governor gave the counsel while presenting certificates of recognition and staff of office to two first class traditional rulers in Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the State in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening.
The first-class traditional rulers are His Majesty, King Marcus Oduma Woyike, Nye Nwe-Ali Elele Okinali/Elele-Alimini in Ikwerre Local Government Area, and His Majesty, King Ndamzi Nsirim, Nye Nwe-Eli Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He stated that what the Government was doing was officially recognising what their communities had done through the traditional process of selection and installation, adding that the stools were already recognised by law in the State.
The Governor urged the two monarchs to see their recognition as an opportunity to play their role in supporting good governance in the State while protecting the interest of their people, emphasising the need to forgive those who may have offended them in the past, and ensure that all stakeholders are carried along in the scheme of things.
Governor Fubara said, “What we are doing here is just a fulfilment of what is already existing. The stool of Nye Nwe-Ali Elele has already been gazetted and existing. And the process for selection is already done. What we just did here is official government recognition”.
He advised the Nye Nwe-Ali Elele Okinali/Elele-Alimini, His Majesty, King Marcus Oduma Woyike, to work with all stakeholders in the kingdom to ensure peace and security in the communities, while urging him to synergise with other traditional rulers in the State to ensure that the State Government succeeds in the delivery of good governance, and protection of lives and property of the people of the State.
The Governor added, “On that of His Majesty, King Ndamzi Nsirim, fortunately, the stool that you are occupying was also recognized and gazetted by the previous administration. What we are also doing here is that after the process of selection of the new head (king), it is the duty of government to officially give you a letter of recognition and staff of office.
“So, what we are doing is not a new thing or creating a new stool, but recognizing what already exists. (We are only) bringing you into the Council of Traditional Rulers recognized by the government,” he stressed.
He appealed to the monarchs to be fair and just to all, and ensure that they always relate with their subjects so that they can appreciate the people’s needs better and work with the Government to address them.
Noting that the positions they occupy should be used to do good and serve the people selflessly, Governor Fubara emphasized that, “It is an opportunity that God has created for you. It is not for you to use it to undo your people”.
He noted that, “In the process of this selection, you might have had one issue or the other. People might have been against you, but in the end, what is important is that you are there now. Carry everybody along. Have the heart of forgiveness. As a traditional ruler, everybody belongs to you. So, work with them.
“Let me wish you a successful reign. Let your reign be remembered for good. Let your reign be a testimony that at this particular time that you ascended this throne, it is for a purpose. Rule well, and God will be with you”, he admonished.
He reminded the traditional rulers that the people come first in his administration, and assured them of his government’s support to enable them to succeed in carrying out their responsibilities.
The Governor further reminded the monarchs that their recognition has brought them into the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and advised them to bring their wealth of experience to the service of the State while mobilizing their people to contribute meaningfully to the peace and sustainable development of the State.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Engr Charles Amadi, introduced the two traditional rulers to the Governor for the presentation of their certificates of recognition and staff of office.
He noted that the monarchs had successfully gone through the required traditional selection and installation processes, and have been found worthy to be so recognised by government, and therefore, fitting for staff of office and certificates of recognition.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.