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How To Rebuild PDP, By Wike, Others
The Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike and other big wigs of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have sued for more unified action to keep the party united.
Speaking at a one-day retreat tagged, “ The Role of the Opposition in Facilitating Development and Good Governance,” organised by National Assembly members of the party in Port Harcourt, on Monday, Wike said the party must review its media and publicity strategy.
The Rivers State governor observed that the party got negative publicity due to the partisan stance of many of the media houses who were largely owned by opposition members.
He said “the PDP has tried, the media had already made up its mind not to support anything PDP.”
The ploy, he further stated, was to paint Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states as violent, while burying the good sides of those states where PDP was winning.
On his part, former Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, stressed the need to build the party at the grassroots.
Akpabio said, “we should stop building a cult around individuals”.
The former Akwa-Ibom State governor reminded them that the future of the party as an opposition party depends on the disposition and commitment of members, saying, “we don’t need to learn to be in opposition, we are already in it.”
Chairman, Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper, Segun Adeniyi, who spoke on The Role of the Media in Opposition, said the PDP needs to be on the offensive in order to make impact as an opposition party.
He recommended for a Media and Research team that will provide accurate and balanced information, saying the PDP needs to put the Federal Government to task always.
The party also called for synergy among its members, especially those in the two chambers of the National Assembly for a purposeful and credible opposition.
PDP’s acting National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus made the call at retreat for elected PDP National Assembly members in Port Harcourt.
Secondus urged party members to accept their position as opposition with a view to re-engineering the party to victory in the next election.
He tasked the party on discipline, which he said, was a very important attitude in driving development.
The PDP acting national chairman lauded the party for strengthening democracy in the country, saying that it acted in the national interest by conceding defeat.
Secondus promised more democratic based primaries in the party which would be merit-oriented as a means of keeping the party alive.
Senate President, David Mark, urged members to take their destiny in their hands to ensure the party’s survival.
He said that opposition was the beauty of democracy and that PDP could not achieve success as opposition party without being vibrant and responsible.
The senate president noted that the ruling party would do everything possible to divide the PDP to enable them have their way but ‘’we must remain united and focused’’.
“There has to be proper synergy between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure PDP stays alive,’’ Mark said.
Also speaking, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu called on PDP National Assembly members to rise up to the challenge of opposition with responsibility.
Ekweremadu urged the party members in the National Assembly to hold APC accountable to all their campaign promises.
“We should not only hold them accountable in terms of their list of promises but also in accordance with the timeline they gave in the course of the campaigns.
“They should be able to bring exchange rates down to one naira to one dollar and bring back the Chibok girls, ’’ he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha called on PDP members to be courageous in their role as opposition.
Ihedioha, who commended APC for a classical opposition role during PDP’s reign, said that it was time to pay them in their own coin.
He said that every successful opposition always partnered with the media and being able to be vigilant at all times.
“Do not relent, we need to work on our media friends, it is time to call attention of people when things begin to go wrong,’’ Ihedioha said.
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.