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No Amount Of Threat Can Stop Me From Supporting Fubara-NCSU Boss
The Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, says no amount of threat can stop him from supporting Governor SiminalayiFubara, saying he can only stop writing and talking about the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike if he leaves the Governor alone and allows him to concentrate on the rulership and development of the State.
Osumah made the remarks in an interview in Port Harcourt, following a physical attack on his person by three men suspected to be loyalists of Wike within the Abuloma axis of Port Harcourt recently.
He said no amount of threat on his life would stop him from supporting Governor Fubara, as he would continue to do so, even at the risk of his life because of his good works, and advised Chief Wike to leave the Governor alone and allow him to concentrate on the rulership and development of the State.
He noted that when Wike was Governor of the State for eight years, he never promoted civil servants and denied them Christmas bonus and yearly increments, describing Governor Fubara as Godsent and a man who has the welfare and interest of the workers at heart.
According to him, the civil servants would continue to stand for Governor Fubara “because he is our own. He has stood for workers.We will stand for him at all times.We will continue to talk about Wike until he leaves the Governor alone to concentrate on his duty of developing the State and attending to the welfare needs of Rivers people.Each time they are attacking or fighting the Governor, they are attacking civil servants in the State and the entire labour movement in the country.”
Osumah noted that as the Christmas festivities are fast approaching, civil servants in the State are expectant, and thanked the Governor for the implementation of the N85, 000 minimum wage for the workers.
While giving an insight into the recent attack on his person, the labour leader revealed that on the fateful day, the attackers who were driving in a black Toyota Camry car had blocked his vehicle and ordered him to enter theirs, after accusing him of insulting and writing against the FCT Minister.
According to him, it was God who saved him, as he successfully resisted the move by the attackers to force him into their car.
“There were three men.The one on the driver’s seat confronted me, saying I am insulting and writing against the FCT Minister and asked me to enter their car. As he was opening the door of the car, I pushed the car door with him, and he hit me on the left eye. He also hit me on the head,” he said.
He indicated that in the ensuing melee, the one who hit him asked the fellow on the front seat, who had jumped down to enter the car and they zoomed off, as people were gathering at the scene.
According to him, the occupant of the back seat, whom he suspected knew him, never came down from the car.
He said the incident happened on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at about 9pm, contending that the attack portends grave danger for democracy in the State,as it is a calculated attempt to muzzle the freedom of speech and expression, since his attackers accused him of insulting and writing against Wike.
In spite of the seeming threat to his life, Osumah reiterated that no amount of such threats would stop him from supporting Governor Fubara, saying the NCSU is proud of the Governor.
He thanked the Governor for recently hosting labour leaders from the 36 States of the federation in Port Harcourt, and also applauded the release of federal allocations to the State in spite of a High Court ruling stopping the release of the allocations.
The unionist equally praised the Court of Appeal ruling nullifying the ruling of a High Court on the October 5 local government elections in Rivers State.
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.