Rivers
Activists Call For Abolition Of Federal Character Principles

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (2nd right), with Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Tonye Oniyide (right), Miss Nigeria 2015, Miss Pamela Lessi Vigboro (middle), Mr and Mrs Vigboro (parents of Miss Nigeria 2015), during a courtesy call in Government House, Port Harcourt, recently.
Activists have called on
the Federal Government to abolish the Federal Character principles and allow the society to thrive on the basis of excellence.
The activists who spoke to The Tide on the sideline of the just concluded World Social Justice Day in Port Harcourt said that the content of the character of a leader should be promoted above tribal sentiment.
Speaking with The Tide, Mr Pat Obiene stressed the need for government at all levels to fight against poverty and material inequality, describing them as great enemies of societal peace and stability.
Mr Obiene also urged the government to eradicate class differences in the society, through the promotion of programmes that would emancipate the people economically.
On his part, Mr Christian Lekie, a social crusader condemned hate speeches by politicians as they breed social injustice. “Class inequality is an imbalance that needs correction.
“Class greed is against the principle of democracy.
The popular perception is that in Nigeria there is no internal democracy but corruption and hatred” he said.
Mr Lekie said that the sooner the ruling class realised this, the better would be the society.
He said that the World Social Justice Day was set aside by the United Nations in 2001 as part of the struggle against poverty and material inequality in the society and to also promote freedom and human dignity.
According to him, Nigeria which is a member of the global community has been celebrating it since inception.
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi