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SNGF’s Decisions On Open Grazing, Others Irrevocable, Wike Vows
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (SNG) irrevocable decision on open grazing and other issues must be respected.
He said those opposed to resolutions taken by southern governors in Asaba, Delta State, should realise that no section of the country is inferior to others.
Wike stated these during a grand reception held in his honour by Ogoni people in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, last Saturday.
The governor declared that he has taken further steps to fulfill the resolutions reached by southern governors in Asaba.
“We have taken a position and no going back. Enough is enough. We are not second class citizens of this country. We also own this country.
“We are not impressed with the slow pace of the Ogoni environmental remediation,” Wike noted.
The governor charged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), which is saddled with the responsibility of the clean-up of polluted sites in Ogoni, to relocate its operational office from Port Harcourt to Bori, the headquarters of the Ogoni people.
“You cannot talk of cleaning up a place and keep your office in another area. Bring your office from Port Harcourt, and come and stay in Bori, so that you can hear and appreciate the feelings of the people”, the governor explained.
Wike recalled that when he launched his quest to govern Rivers State in 2014, he received tremendous support from Ogoni people, adding that in appreciation, his administration has graciously fulfilled the promise to dualise the Saakpenwa-Bori Road while going further to award contract for the phase two of the project from Bori to Kono valued at N14billion.
The governor acknowledged that the people of Ogoni have remained steadfast in their support of his administration.
The governor directed the commissioner of power and in-coming chairman of Khana Local Government Area to ensure the electrification of all communities in the area that were not connected to the national grid within the next five months.
He charged the incoming chairmen of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme to endeavour to initiate and implement projects that would enhance the wellbeing of their people.
Wike noted that Ogoni was an important integral part of the state and Nigeria, and urged their leaders to fight against the menace of cultism and other related acts of criminality.
The Rivers State governor, who was conferred with the title, ‘Mene Kwalenu 1st of Ogoni (a benevolent king)’ by the President of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King G.N.K. Giniwa, assured that his administration would continue to ensure even development of every part of the state.
In his address, President of KAGOTE, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah, said the reception was organised in honour of the governor because Ogoni people were beneficiaries of the unprecedented infrastructural developments witnessed in the state since he assumed office.
“In this light, we respectfully place on record our gratitude for the various appointments and elective offices that came to our sons and daughters through your singular effort. Due to your kind gestures, several infrastructural development programmes and projects that you have executed in our local government areas both completed and some ongoing are scattered all over the place.”
Also speaking, Senator Magnus Abe, lauded the governor for improving infrastructure in Ogoni land.
“This is not a gathering of the Ogoni people from which any Ogoni man that is proud to be an Ogoni man can afford to be absent.
“The good politician is not the one that has the most number of enemies, it is the one that has the most number of friends,” Abe said.
In his remarks, the former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Barrister Ledum Mitee, said Ogoni people would remain eternally grateful to Wike for his developmental strides in the area.
Mitee explained that during his reign as MOSOP president, he had appealed to all past Rivers governors to dualise the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road but none except Wike harkened to his call and that of other Ogoni leaders.
Present at the event were Minister of State for Education, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba; Senator Barry Mpigi; Hon Dumnamene Dekor; the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, among other leaders.
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.