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Soku Oil Well Belongs To Rivers -Wike

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Echoes of the disputed Soku Oil Well reverberated last week, as the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike called on the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to do the right thing by ensuring that revenue accruing from the Soku Oil Well is paid to Rivers State.
The governor made the call last Tuesday when a delegation of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Wike described as unfortunate, the statement made by his Bayelsa State counterpart, that the commission should not pay the revenue from Soku Oil Well to Rivers State which is the rightful owner of the oil well.
Gov Wike said: “ The matter was at the Supreme Court when the National Boundary Commission admitted that they made an error in their 11th edition publication by situating Soku Oil Well in Bayelsa.
“ They were therefore directed to correct the error in their 12th edition publication. When they also failed to effect the correction, we had to go back to the Federal High Court. The court in it’s wisdom directed that all revenue accruing from Soku Oil Well should be paid to Rivers State.
“ If they had filed a matter at the Supreme Court, it is not an injunction to stop the implementation of the subsisting judgement”.
The governor also advocated for a new revenue sharing formula that would enable the states get more money for development, because the burden of development rests more on the shoulders of the states.
The Rivers State Chief Executive  said the development of the country would remain stunted if there are no strong institutions that would promote devolution of power.
He made the observation while delivering his speech at the 60th Independence Anniversary held in Government House.
He said to put Nigeria on the path of progressive growth, the rule of law,a fraud proof electoral system and effective neutrality of law enforcement agencies and Independence of the judiciary should be put in place.
Wike noted that at Independence, there was effective democracy, regional autonomony and fiscal federalism but regretted that those principles that guided the political, socio-economic  relationship between the central government and the regions have been frustrated.
“ Under this arrangement, Nigeria thrived  on a peaceful and progressive path. Unfortunately, the fundamental principles of negotiated constitutional autonomy at Federal Court were blatantly jettisoned’, he said.
Also last week, Gov Wike said for judiciary to attain the needed Independence, judges  must be courageous and determined to uphold the tenets of the profession.
The governor made the call at a live Television interview programme monitored from Port Harcourt.
He explained that independence of judiciary does not mean to have more money to go on vacation but rather the freedom to attend to legal matters without fear or favour.
Another major event last week in Brick House was visit of Governor Wike to Oba of Benin. Wike, in company of other PDP Governor’s had gone to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba Akpolokpolo Ewuare 11 on a thank you visit to commend the monarch for his political neutrality and prayers for peaceful election during the Edo Gubernatorial Election.
Also within the week under review, Governor Wike handed over more residential quarters and office spaces to federal agencies in Ogu/ Bolo Local Government Area to enhance their services to the state.
The facilities included 48 units of One Bedroom Flats, 24 units of Two Bedroom Flats and Two multipurpose Halls.
“ We built some of these residential houses because we found out that most of the staff of these federal agencies still come to work here from Port Harcourt.

 

By: Chris Oluoh

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Lagos Assembly Commotion: Lawmakers Reject Obasa’s Return, Pass Confidence Vote On Meranda

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Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a vote of confidence in Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The lawmakers expressed their confidence in her leadership at the plenary, which Rt Hon. Meranda presided over amidst tight security.
The Tide’s source reports that there was a growing tension at the assembly as legislative workers protested against the alleged plans to remove Rt Hon. Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The legislative workers also clashed with the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) who, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the assembly and sealed Rt Hon. Meranda’s office alongside that of her Deputy and the Clerk.
Our source had reported how armed security personnel took over the complex at Alausa, Ikeja, leading to palpable tension among the lawmakers and workers of the assembly.
There are indications that the ongoing imbroglio at the assembly following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker on January 13 has not abated.
The Monday’s drama came a few days after Mr Obasa, who was removed for alleged abuse of office and corruption, dragged the state lawmakers to court, challenging his removal as the Speaker of the Assembly.
There are alleged plans to return Mr Obasa as the Speaker, a development which has further heightened tension at the assembly.
The Tide’s source reports that when Meranda arrived the assembly complex amidst tight security around 11:15 am on Monday, many legislative workers showed solidarity with the first female Speaker over alleged plans to remove her.
“Meranda we want”, “Meranda We want”, the workers were chanting in a short video clip.
Rt Hon. Meranda visibly overwhelmed by emotion was surrounded by her security details amid the chaotic atmosphere.
Inside the chamber, officials of the DSS clashed with the legislative workers, leading to commotion.
The DSS officials, dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, struggled with the workers at the door.
The Tide’s source gathered that, with support from the legislative workers, lawmakers had earlier forced their way into the chamber around 12:30 pm.
It was further gathered that Rt Hon Meranda and about 32 members were present at the plenary.
A short video clip of the plenary showed that all the lawmakers in attendance had passed a vote of confidence on Rt Hon Meranda.
“Madam Speaker, all members standing before you, I move a motion to say that we do pass the vote of confidence on Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda”, a lawmaker said.
The motion was supported by all members in attendance.

 

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PDP, APC Trade Blame Over Killings In Osun Local Councils’ Crisis

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, on Monday, traded words over the alleged killing of three persons.
Members of both parties were locked in battle for the control of some local government secretariats. While two persons were killed in Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, another was killed in Irewole Local Government Area.
There had been tension across the state over the Court of Appeal judgment in respect of the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors.
While the PDP claimed that the Feb. 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, APC insisted on their return.
Speaking with journalists in Iragbiji, Korede Ajeigbe, the commissioner for government affairs and protocol, claimed that two PDP members were killed while trying to prevent APC members from taking over a secretariat.
Mr Ajeigbe also said that six PDP members were seriously injured and were currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
APC, however, alleged that PDP members attacked its members while trying to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment.
Addressing a news conference in Osogbo, Bayo Adeleke, a chieftain of the APC, claimed that one of the party’s prominent members was killed during the crisis.
He also alleged that another member of the party, Remi Omowaye, escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa.
Mr Adeleke, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, urged the state government to allow peace to reign by allowing the APC chairmen and councillors to return to office.
Another chieftain of the party, Jamiu Olawumi, claimed that APC chairmen had resumed in 15 local governments of the state.
This claim, however, could not be immediately verified.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, CSP Yemisi Opalola, said she was yet to be briefed on the alleged killings.
Ms Opalola, however, said police officers had been deployed to all the local government secretariats in the state to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ademola Adeleke has directed workers as well as politicians to stay away from local government secretariats to avoid further bloodshed.
Mr Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said only security agents would be allowed to keep watch at the secretariats.
He condoled with families of victims of the crisis.

 

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100 Days In Office: Lawmaker Passes Confidence Vote On Council Boss

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Leader of the 8th Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Assembly, Barrister Samuel Nengia, has passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, as he marked his first one hundred days in his second term in office.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port-Harcourt on Dr Cookey-Gam and the celebration of his first one hundred days in office, among other people-oriented development projects and programmes, Nengia argued that the Chairman and his team have recorded unprecedented developmental strides, which includes infrastructure transformation, empowerment, security, human capital development, payment of the approved N85,000. 00 minimum wage to Opobo/Nkoro workers’, among others.
He pointed out that his commendation was apt as the activities of the Chairman had been monitored and discovered to reflect the expectations and yearnings of the people, especially, the promotion of council staff, the refurbishment of the Assembly Complex to standard, the construction of Corpers’ Lodge, the provision of effective transportation system for the well-being of the people in the area.
Hon. Nengia, representing Opobo/Nkoro Ward 6, averred that the people of the LGA could now sleep with their eyes closed owing to Dr Cookey-Gam’s achievements in in the security sector.
He added that the vote of confidence the Council’s number one citizen would strengthen him to deliver more democratic dividends to Opobo/Nkoro people.
He admonished Opobo/Nkoro people to rally support for the Chairman to perform creditably well for the well-being of the electorate in the area.
Meanwhile, Barr. Samuel Nengia, has thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointing three illustrious sons of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area into positions of trust vis former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, as Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission; former Secretary of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Engr. Edward Namiesimagha, as Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and Surveyor Peter Ogolo, as Surveyor-, General of the state.
Hon. Nengia, who described the appointments as well deserved, however, enjoined the appointees to bring their leadership wealth of experience to bear in the herculean tasks of reviving their various areas of jurisdiction.

Bethel Toby

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