News
Rivers Remains Safe For Business, Dev -Wike …Blasts Amaechi Over Utterance
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has said that the state is safe for productive economic activities for the empowerment of the people.
Wike described as unfortunate, failed attempts by the former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to de-market the state on NTA Tuesday Live, where the former Rivers State governor claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration could not extend railway to Rivers State due to alleged insecurity.
He spoke at the second term inauguration banquet at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
In attendance at the inauguration banquet were prominent Rivers leaders, traditional rulers, national and state Assembly members and local government chairmen.
Wike said: “Amaechi claimed on NTA Tuesday Live that he did not bring the railway to Rivers State because of insecurity. What about Kaduna and Daura with very high level of insecurity, yet they took railway there?
“Just this week, the President met with the governors of 19 northern states, and they discussed how to stem the tide of insecurity in the region. Yet, they were not denied projects.
“For how long will Amaechi continue to de-market Rivers State? Was it insecurity that made him not to give the President 25 per cent during the last elections? You claim Rivers State is insecure, but you came to the state to hold your birthday. Every Rivers indigene owes it a duty to protect the state”.
He said contrary to the false propaganda about insecurity, Rivers State has continued to grow her Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) since 2015.
“When I came on board as governor in 2015, we met an Internally Generated Revenue of N4.5billion. But now, it has grown to N8-9billion. If the state is not safe, our Internally Generated Revenue will not be on the increase.
“Let nobody de-market Rivers State. This ugly politics will not work. We have not benefited anything from the APC-led Federal Government since 2015. They are refunding money for federal projects, but they delisted Rivers State. But I will not bow to anyone, I will only continue to respect constituted authority”, he said.
Wike announced that competence and loyalty would drive the setting up of his second term cabinet, adding that only persons with 100 per cent loyalty will make the list.
The governor assured that he would pay more attention to the masses through empowerment programmes.
Also speaking, the former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili said Wike has surpassed all former governors in terms of performance in the last four years.
He called on the governor to use his second term to promote the unity of Rivers people for the development of the state.
“Every inch of the journey from now on must be devoted to thanking God ceaselessly for what He did for our state. You have done so much, but there is still work to be done”, he added.
Odili urged Wike to devote more resources to empowering the less privileged during his second term, advising the governor to find a way of reaching the poor without passing through middlemen.
He advised the governor not to be distracted by political intrigues, as the race for 2023 has already started.
In his remarks, United States Consul-General in Nigeria, John Bray said he was very proud of Rivers people because of the role they played during the last elections, adding that during the last elections, Rivers people won despite the challenges of the period.
Bray said: “As I come from a democratic country, I am very proud of Rivers people. During the last difficult elections, the people won. So, I raise my glass to you, the people of Rivers”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said though the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi came with Army Generals to overrun the state, he was defeated by Rivers people.
Senator Dino Melaye commended Rivers people for voting a man of courage who believes in the defence of the Niger Delta, noting that Rivers people voted for a man who has conquered fear.
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi praised Wike for his outstanding performance in his first term, and conferred on the governor the title of “Pride of Nigeria”.
Founder of AIT, Dr Raymond Dokpesi thanked Rivers people for standing solidly behind Wike during the last elections, stressing that the governor has become a role model in leadership across Nigeria.
“Without the outstanding performance of Governor Wike, it would have been impossible for the PDP to be alive in the country”, he said.
Former President of the
Meanwhile, the Governor of Rivers State, NyesomWike, has attacked a former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for allegedly trying to de-market the state.
Wike spoke at a second term inauguration banquet at the Government House Port Harcourt.
He said contrary to the false propaganda about insecurity, Rivers State has continued to grow her internally generated revenue since 2015.
In attendance at the dinner were the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Senator Dino Melaye; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogun.
Others are, Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja; Founder of AIT, Dr Raymond Dokpesi, among others.
Wike said, “Amaechi claimed on NTA Tuesday live that he did not bring the railway to Rivers State because of insecurity, what about Kaduna and Daura with very high level of insecurity, yet they took railway there.
“Just this week, the President met with the governors of 19 northern states and they discussed how to stem the tide of insecurity in the region. Yet they were not denied projects.
“For how long will Amaechi continue to de-market Rivers State. Was it insecurity that made him not to give the President 25 per cent during the last elections?
“You claim Rivers State is insecure, but you came to the state to hold your birthday. Every Rivers indigene owes it a duty to protect the state.
“When I came on board as Governor in 2015, we met an Internally Generated Revenue of N4.5billion. But now, it has grown to N8-9billion. If the state is not safe, our Internally Generated Revenue will not be on the increase.
“Let nobody de-market Rivers State. This ugly politics will not work. We have not benefited anything from the APC Federal Government since 2015.
“They are refunding money for Federal projects, but they delisted Rivers State. But I will not bow to anyone, I will only continue to respect constituted authority.”
Governor Wike further announced that competence and loyalty would drive the setting up of his second term cabinet. He said only persons with 100 per cent loyalty will make the list.
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.