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Rivers Polls: S’ Court Got It Right -PDP
The Chairman, Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Bro Felix Obuah, says there is nothing wrong with the January 27, 2016, judgment delivered unanimously by the seven Supreme Court’s jurists led by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Muhammed.
Obuah explained, in a statement issued by his media aide, Jerry Needam, that the PDP was not pleased with the comments emanating from the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie–Oyegun, that there was something fundamentally wrong with the judicial arm of government over the Supreme Court’s judgment in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, saying that that was not a view expected of a statesman he ought to be.
The PDP chairman described Oyegun’s position as not only disrespectful to the eminent Justices, the judiciary and the apex court in the land but a dangerous threat to the survival of the hard-earned democracy in the nation, adding that it was most unfortunate and disappointing that such statement could come from a senior citizen like Odigie-Oyegun.
He noted that rather than commend the Justices of the Supreme Court for taking action to maintain the independence and unbiased position of the judiciary by declaring sound judgments as in the case of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia and Ebonyi states, Oyegun preferred to make such derogatory and unpatriotic statements about the judiciary.
“One thing is certain, and that is the fact that the Supreme Court Justices toed the path of honour and dignity by not yielding to the pressure and influence of the APC-led Federal Government, demanding the nullification of the elections of the affected PDP state governors; a commendable feat by the Supreme Court’s Justices.
“Another truth revealed to us in Oyegun’s statements is the fact that the APC leadership is not interested in the development and welfare of the people or simply put, good governance, but obviously interested in the economic resources of the States,” Obuah said.
It would be recalled that Oyegun had, in the statement, said: “we (APC) have lost every important resource-rich state to the PDP. No matter how crude oil prices have fallen, it is still the most important revenue earner for the country.”
PDP said the statement clearly exposes the selfish and economic interest of the APC, rather than genuine quest for the development of the states.
Obuah said other issues of serious concern include the desperate declaration to the Rivers APC delegation that the national leadership of the party will give necessary support to ensure success in subsequent elections in Rivers State, while responding to an earlier request by the leader of the delegation, Dr Dakuku Peterside, for the Federal Government and the APC national leadership to “do all that it takes to win all 12 House of Representatives seats, three Senate seats and 22 seats in the state House of Assembly, that will enable us produce the Speaker of the House.
“Our view of this position is that even if it requires setting the state ablaze just for the APC to secure all these seats in the elections, it is of no consequence to the APC. This must not be allowed to be witnessed in our state, especially when everyone has his or her fundamental rights to vote for candidates of his or her choice.
“It is, therefore, important that we remind the APC leadership that we are in a democracy where the three arms of government must be made to function independently, with checks and balances; where people should be allowed to take decision based on their conviction and choice.
“It is only in a dictatorial regime that Oyegun’s policies and principles can thrive. The people have spoken and God has heard the voices of the people through the decision of the Supreme Court. Only Odigie-Oyegun and the APC leadership know what they mean by investigating the judgment of the Apex Court.”
PDP called on all Nigerians to be on the alert on what the APC-led government wants to turn the judiciary and the entire country into.
“We also call on the international community to prevail on the APC national leadership to respect the Constitution of the land, and subject themselves to the rule of law as it is only through this that the rights of individuals and institutions can be guaranteed, thereby paving the way for meaningful development and peace in the country,” Obuah charged.
Meanwhile, a group, under the aegis of Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC), has faulted a recent statement credited to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun over the judgment of the Supreme Court on the Rivers governorship election.
The party leader had in a statement faulted the judgment of the court, which upheld the election of Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party as the governor of the state.
He said the apex court and its judges should be probed for delivering judgment in favour of the PDP.
Reacting to Oyegun’s submission, the group said his statement was an affront to the independent of the judiciary.
FHRACC in a statement by its president, Alaowei Cleric Esq., the group warned the party chieftain to stop heating up the polity with his sentimental statement.
“The statement accredited to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun in some national dailies on the 4th of February, 2016 where he was quoted to have said that the Supreme Court Judges should be probed for delivering judgment in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The said statement which was not only made in bad light, it was made to denigrate the sanctity of the judiciary. “His careless and irresponsible statement which is lacking in substance in our view exposes the failed plan of the APC led-Government to turn the judiciary to an agency of the executive arm in order to serve its whims and caprices.
“If a person of Oyegun’s repute can make such incongruous statement, ostensibly to serve his party’s interest as against national interest, then our democracy is in great danger. No wonder President Buhari said the judiciary is his biggest headache. Oyegun who was gloating over the contradictory and conflicting judgments the lower courts were given in the same election matters in favour of his party did not deemed it proper to call for probe of those judges now calling for the probe of the Supreme Court Justices because the judicial pendulum swing against his party? What a shame?
In an in-depth look at the wordings of the APC Chairman, we can safely inferred that the ruling government has set in motion, a machinery to cage the judiciary thereby turning the country into a tyrannical conclave where it can rule the country by blood and iron. This is a dangerous tendency to our body polity. Nigerians should be vigilant to resist this despotic approach of governance. We therefore call on the National Assembly to be alive to resist the APC’s tyrannical approach to kill our fledging democracy.”
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George (right), receiving a document from President, (Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Rotimi Oladele, during a courtesy visit to the commissioner in Port Harcourt, yesterday
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.