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Our Impact’ll Endure For Ages – Fubara …Charges POWA To Help Police Discharge Duties Professionally
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to spend his time in office executing tenable programmes and delivering services that will both improve the quality of life of all residents and create lasting impact for posterity.
The Governor also urged wives of police officers to be deliberate in advising their husbands to continue to discharge their duties in a professional manner since it is the best way to defend the truth.
Governor Fubara gave the charge when he received in audience the National President of Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA), Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, who is also the wife of the Inspector-General of Police, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday night.
Governor Fubara said there are self-styled adversaries against his administration who want to frustrate governance, and cause distraction with provocative acts that are intended to induce violence.
But Governor Fubara said: “As a government, I know that you know all the stories around us. But we will continue to do the best we can for our people.
“At the end of the day, what people want to see or what they want to hear is the mark that we have made. It is not the level of distraction that we have been faced or that is confronting us.
“It is the impact that we have made in governance that will count. So, we will make sure that we continue to do that, focusing on the ball.
“We know that we have started well; one day, it will end, and we will leave. So, because we know that we have decided to take the path of peace (we are happy).”
Governor Fubara enjoined wives of police officers to fervently pray for his administration, and ensure that they advise their husbands to continue to stand on the path of truth.
The task, he noted, might be very challenging for them, but it should not matter whose ox is gored, because it is only the truth that eventually will last forever.
Governor Fubara harped on the importance of building a good name that should reckon in history and serve as reflection of how well one has conducted himself in the service of the people.
He said: “When that name is mentioned somewhere, let people say, ooh, this is a good man. You won’t be there again to defend it but the name can make you pass through. The truth is that we are the head, but you are the neck that controls the head.
“So, help us, pray for Rivers State, intercede for us. There are places that we cannot reach, but our message today is going to those places. So, please, that is the request we are making as a government. We do not want any trouble, what we are doing here is governance.
“The Bible doesn’t make a mistake when it says ‘the sins of the fathers will come upon their children’. So, we should learn and work as professionals. This is very important.”
Governor Fubara acknowledged the lofty accomplishments of POWA and how the association has also supported widows among them with lifelines to cushion the burden of life challenges on them.
The Governor said: “I strongly believe that if the Commissioner of Police (CP) is not doing what is right, you won’t be here. It means, he is living up to his responsibility.
“Let me also commend the wife (of the commissioner) for finding the time and willing to also spend the resources. One thing is to have the time, and the other is to be willing to spend the resources to leave a landmark; something that the police in Rivers State will not forget in a hurry.
“It doesn’t matter how big, what is important is giving back to the society. And I am happy that one of the cardinal objectives of this body (POWA) is giving back to society.
“You might think that what you are doing is nothing, but it goes a long way to assure the police officers, their wives that even if they are no more, somebody is there to look out in their stead for their wives. So, I want to encourage you to continue to do that.
“On our own part as a government, I think from my own record, I have been giving so much support to this association. This is not the first time. I know ones or twice, they have written to me for something, and I have supported them. I support them because I am also from the military background.”
Governor Fubara, who commended the Commissioner of Police in the State for his sterling performance, urged him not to hesitate to bring to his knowledge areas of further support that POWA will require.
He added, “And I can say boldly here, our mummy, you can transmit this one: Disu has been very professional. Without Disu, this State would have been destroyed. I can tell you that without this man being professional, this State would have been destroyed. If they need a recommendation letter, let them come, I will give them.
“You’ve been a very wonderful officer. I need to say this, let it be on record: You found yourself in a very difficult situation, but you’ve been really balanced. So, I want to commend you for that. Continue to be balanced, don’t shift the balance. We will do everything to give you the support for you to succeed more.
“What is important, I keep saying, I want where my children’s name would be mentioned; they say Fubara, do you know so, so person, they say he is my father, the response will be ‘good, good’. That is the greatest legacy anyone can keep.”
In her speech, National President of the Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA) and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, said they are in Port Harcourt to officially open for use the POWA Shopping Complex that was built by the branch of the association in the State.
Mrs Egbetokun explained that it is their duty as leaders at the national headquarters to go round facilities and branches of the association to see what progress has been made or challenges faced by members, including windows.
She said, “We are here in this State. The chairperson here told us that she has built a POWA Shopping Complex. So, we are here to commission it, and by the special grace of God, we have done that this afternoon.
“And we are able to empower our women, those who need our support, and that is what we have done. But it is actually a tradition in POWA that whenever we are in a State, we like to visit the Governor, and let him know about our activities. That is why we are here this evening, Sir.”
Mrs Egbetokun expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his generosity and immense support not only to POWA in the State but also to officers of the command that has served as good motivation for them to carry out their duties.
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.