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Live More Impactful Lives, Fubara Admonishes
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that nothing can surpass the eternal gains of living quality and exemplary life because it leaves enduring but positive impact on society.
The Governor, therefore, advised people to spend more time in endeavours that contribute to advancing society, help individuals and promote peace at all times.
Governor Fubara made the remark at the Funeral Service of late Mrs Erefori Basi Maeba, mother of Senator Lee Maeba, former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly at Luuwa Community in Khana Local Government Area of the State last Saturday.
The Governor said: “We are here to celebrate Mama, to say farewell. But I have a question for the family; the Lee family: When Mama was alive, I hope you had a relationship with her?
I hope you had a friendship, you had respect for Mama?
“Because it is not just enough for us to come to celebrate her in death. We should, when our parents are alive, also honour them. That is the most important thing.”
Governor Fubara, however, said that going by what was said by the chief mourner, Senator Maeba, the children had maintained good relationship with their matriarch.
He said, “Let me thank everyone of you who have come to support our brother. There is nothing so important and too special than to live a life that is fulfilled.
“It is not the number of years, but the value that is added to that life that affects people positively when you are alive.”
Speaking on the resolve of his administration to continue to steady the affairs of State, Governor Fubara assured of providing quality leadership that will continue to change the trajectory of development.
Mindful of the distractions, Governor Fubara acknowledged the support of Rivers people, and assured that he will not disappoint them but deliver good governance and quality infrastructure to the people.
“The Government of Rivers State under our watch will continue to take the interest of our people very seriously. We will not play. We will not jeopardize this support, and for this mandate that you have given to us, we will defend it, and make you proud.”
Preaching at the Funeral Service, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Archbishop Oliver Ali Abah, said the biblical Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of the fish, was found worthy by God to be sent on an eternal rescue mission, and admonished that people should have such attributes by diligently working to overcome life’s challenges daily.
In his speech, the chief mourner, Senator Lee Maeba, acknowledged the support of Governor Fubara, and thanked friends for their solidarity and prayers while also expressing gratitude to God for keeping the family united.
Dignitaries at the event were Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo; former Governors of the State: Chibuike Amaechi, and Sir Celestine Omehia; as well as former Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru; Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo; former National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus; former transport minister, Dr Abiye Sekibo; some former and serving National Assembly members; and Rivers State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Emeka Bekee.
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.