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‘GDI Requires God Pardon’
A former House of Representatives lawmaker in Rivers State, Hon Igo Aguma, has said that the Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has worked assiduously more than any of his antagonists, and therefore would get God’s blessings.
Hon Aguma, who stated this last weekend in Port Harcourt while reacting to a statement credited to the President General of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Bright Ameawhule, advised the opposition group to seek God’s forgiveness for the unwarranted crisis it has instigated in Rivers State through their sponsors and cohorts.
The GDI, through its President General, had made disparaging statements about Governor Chibuike Amaechi, alleging that the governor has raped the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Hon Aguma said such statement was mischievous and blasphemous, and strengthens the suspicion that the elements behind the GDI were determined to destabilize the peace in the state, as he assured that Rivers people who are witnesses to the developmental strides of the present administration would resist the evil plot of GDI with all their strength and blood.
According to him, “we do not want to join issues with the evil driving, volatile and rabble-rousing GDI and its sponsors over the appointment of an acting chief judge for the state, we take serious exceptions to abuses poured on Governor Amaechi and his administration. The words used on the governor clearly show that the GDI and its sponsors lack home training and are morally bankrupt in thinking and actions”.
“We wish to state clearly that Governor Amaechi has worked assiduously, more than any of his antagonists, who today are major beneficiaries of his administration. Perhaps, we should advise the GDI to seek God’s forgiveness for the unwarranted crises they have instigated in the state through their sponsors and cohorts”, Aguma said.
“Rather than say the Holy Spirit has departed from Governor Amaechi, it is actually the GDI and its selfish sponsors that the Holy Spirit has departed from, as all their evil plans to cause chaos manifesting in the incessant arrest and unlawful detention of genuine PDP members in the state, imposition of a kangaroo PDP executive on Rivers people, unleashing of cultists on Rivers State House of Assembly, connivance with Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to create a state of insecurity in Rivers State with a view to cause state of emergency, among others”, the former National Assembly member added.
He said while these seemingly daunting challenges continue in the state, God has continued to sustain Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and indeed, Rivers people, which is a clear indication that the Holy Spirit has not departed from the governor and the people.
Aguma, who represented Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1in 2003 to 2011, said the achievements of Governor Amaechi do not portray his administration as bereft of ideas, adding that it is on record that the leadership of the PDP in Nigeria, led by President Goodluck Jonathan and his Vice, Namadi Sambo, National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Assembly, fellow PDP and non-PDP governors, youths, women, local, national and international organizations have commended Governor Amaechi as being among the leading lights of Nigeria’s democracy.
He, however, commended the governor for appointing Justice Peter Agumagu as an acting chief judge in line with the Constitution.
“While we await the confirmation of a substantive chief judge by the National Assembly, it is our belief that in the fullness of time, God in His wisdom will determine those the Holy Spirit had departed from”, he noted.
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.