Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Scandinavian, Dr Godknows Igali, has charged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to do all within their power to keep the legacies of their late statesmen alive.
He stated this while delivering a public lecture on the theme, “Okilo: The Bridge-Builder and His Role in the Political Stability of Nigeria” during the 16th anniversary memorial of the late first civilian governor of the old Rivers State, Chief (Sen) Melford Obiene Okilo, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Dr Igali described the late Chief Okilo as the very epitome of integrity, patriotism and selfless service to society.
The diplomat averred that late Chief Okilo was truly a bridge-builder with an  unblemished public service career that spanned from the First Republic to the present one that began in 1999, when he was elected Senator to represent the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
He gave justification for the annual event, urging the Rivers and Bayelsa states governments to continually honour departed heroes such as Chief Dappa Biriye, Major Isaac Adaka Boro and others who made significant contributions towards the creation and development of the two states.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has promised to renovate the personal residence of the late ex-Rivers State Governor at his home town, Emakalakala in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The state governor, Senator Douye Diri, made the pledge while making his remarks at the Memorial Public Lecture.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Governor Diri also promised to renovate the St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalakala which was built by the late sage.
The Tide reports that the two-day 2024 memorial activities ended last Friday with a thanksgiving service at the St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalaka, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at his mausoleum.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted him as saying that the state government was undertaking the renovation projects as a mark of honour to late Chief Okilo’s patriotism and selfless service to Nigeria and humanity in general.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive noted that the late Chief Okilo was the first governor in the history of Nigeria to conceive and establish a state-owned university and an independent power plant in the country, in the early 1980s.
He stressed that if successive governments had built on what the late sage started in the power sector, Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been completely lighted up by now.
Governor Diri eulogized the departed parliamentary secretary to Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, in the First Republic, pointing out that late Chief Okilo lived “his yesterday for today” through a sacrificial and visionary lifestyle.
”From all that has been said, Chief Melford Okilo was a man who lived his yesterday for today. There are things we have started today which we ought to have started yesterday.
“Like the issue of power, if we had built on what Okilo did in the early 1980s, by now the whole of Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been lighted up, and we wouldn’t have had issues with NEPA or PHCN.
“He started the first independent power plant in Nigeria. He saw quality education as a weapon and tool for emancipation, and that is why he also established the first state university in the country, which is the Rivers State University.
“As a government we can’t talk about Melford Okilo sufficiently. But we will continue to honour his patriotic and selfless service to Rivers, Bayelsa, Nigeria and humanity in general.
“In that regard, I want to announce that the Bayelsa State Government is undertaking to renovate the personal residence of Chief Melford Okilo at Emakalakala in Ogbia LGA, as well as the church building where his memorial services had always been held at Emakalakala”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, emphasized that late Chief Melford Okilo deserved to be celebrated for his monumental contributions to the development of the Ijaw nation.
In attendance were former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by a former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, former Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.), serving and past House of Assembly members, commissioners, traditional rulers, amongst others.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

A former Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area, Sir Boma Brown, has called on Nigerian leaders and other stakeholders to fashion a development blueprint that can resolve the country’s current economic challenges.
Sir Brown stated this in Port Harcourt recently while exchanging views with newsmen on the state of the nation and enjoined Nigerians to join hands with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to ensure a hitch free governance.
He said that the responsibilities bestowed on the leaders and the current Federal Government were enormous, adding that with concerted efforts and cooperation, the administration would successfully deliver its promises to Nigerians without hitches.
According to him, the world is currently witnessing a transformation and harped on the need for people to embrace change in the way things were done in the past so that the nation can move forward developmentally.
The ex-council boss expressed optimism that the team headed by President Tinubu will discharge its leadership roles effectively when the chips are down, and called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders, with the view to achieving laudable objectives in governance.
Meanwhile, Sir Brown said that a stable legislature is an indispensable boost for sustainable democracy in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
He said that frequent changes in the legislature had the potentialities of weakening the foundation of democracy.
Sir Brown averred: “Frequent changes of legislators weaken the legislative process and the instrument of democracy.
“In our clime, our people always clamour for changes; communities clamour for changes in their representatives. Such does not help the growth of democracy.
“Experience from parliaments globally is that the longer a legislator stays in the parliament, the better result  for  democracy and the society.”
Sir Brown, however, urged Nigerians to always appreciate the role of the legislature as a needed arm for democracy.
He maintained that if a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is performing in his or her legislative functions creditably to better the lots of his or her constituents, he or she does not require any change but encourage him or her  to do more “.
He further reiterated the resolve of the current Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio to work for the upliftment of the citizenry through commitment to service delivery, honesty, with accountability and transparency.
“The Senate should continue to support Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda”, he said, stressing that “good legislative frameworks are being laid out.
“I believe that cooperation between the Executive and the legislature will fast track service delivery needed to uplift the citizenry as to do the needful for a prosperous Nigeria”, he said.

By: Bethel Toby

The Chairman of Labour Party in Rivers State, Ms Hilda Dokubo, has denied knowledge of alleged plans by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to defect to the party.
Ms Dokubo, who said this in a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt said she has not received such information either from her party men or from the national headquarters of the party.
She however said it is the right of the Governor or any other person to decide where to go.
According to her, ‘’the governor has the right as a Nigerian and as a Rivers man to decide where to go, our own is to give him the full support.
‘But as at now, I’m not aware of such plan”, she said.
The labour party chairperson also disclosed the readiness of the party to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
She said the party had already picked the expression of intent form, adding that the Labour Party was ready to participate in the forthcoming October 5 elections.
“Labour is ready, we are going to the elections”, she said.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator, Initiatives for Persons with Different Disabilities, Comrade David Enogho, has called on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to provide a conducive environment for persons with disabilities to participate in the forthcoming local government elections.
Comrade Enogho, who spoke with The Tide in Port Harcourt on the forthcoming election, said RSIEC can do this by ensuring that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to participate in the election.
He said the Commission can do that by encouraging his colleagues to pick forms free of charge as well as ensuring availability of relevant materials during the election.
Comrade Enogho, however, commended the state government for taking steps to the conduct local government elections at this time.

By: John Bibor