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Akawor Hails Nwanosike’s Giant Strides, Unveils Aluu Classroom Blocks
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State Chapter, Amb. Desmond Akawor has justified the re-election of Engr. Samuel Nwanosike as chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, saying that his performance within 100 days of his second term was startling and worthy of celebration.
Akawor, who was represented by his Deputy Chairman, Chief Chukwuemeka Aaron, made the justification while commissioning the 14-classroom blocks, security post and toilet facilities and eight classroom blocks, constructed by Nwanosike at State School 2, Omuigwe, Aluu, as part of the activities to celebrate his second tenure’s 100 days in office.
He said, “We came to commission a secretariat in Isiokpo, the local government headquarters, and on that day, Amb. Desmond Akawor is one of those who said my brother, you have done well, you deserve a second tenure. Chief Sergeant Awuse also said so. Our elder brother, O. C. J. Okocha, also confirmed it. And the good testimonies of those speeches that day are why we are here today.
“What we saw in Ikwerre Local Government Secretariat was something that you deserve second tenure. And the party said this man who has shown this development will do more, if given opportunity. And from what we are seeing here, you are trying to replicate what the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, is doing in the state”.
Aaron said that Nwanosike was honoured by the chiefs and people of Aluu due to his excellent performance in the community.
According to him, “You were honoured for all the things you did in Aluu. For all the chiefs and the Nyenwe Eli of Aluu to give you that title, Ekwu Eme 1 of Aluu, shows that they have appreciated you. And having appreciated you, what is expected of you is more work. Aluu people need more from you, Ikwerre people need more from you, the entire people here need more from you, and I believe that the way you have started, you will do more for this local government”.
He commended the Ikwerre Council chairman for his developmental strides across the 13 wards of Ikwerre LGA, saying that his commissioning of the projects within his second tenure’s 100 days in office was a testimony to the high leadership qualities of the chairman.
“Today, we are here, ably representing our state Chairman, Amb. Desmond Akawor, to also perform one of those things you told us the day we came to your local government that you did within your 100 days in office. I want to commend you.
“And we also want to say before now, it has never been so that in 100 days, you see a chairman of council doing series of projects.
“Ordinarily, having gotten your second tenure, some will say that it is time to enjoy, but because you are one man who has gone through the tutelage of the governor, you are doing well. The governor, since he started his second tenure, every day we are commissioning, and flagging off projects. And in Ikwerre Local Government, you are replicating what the governor is doing in the state. So go ahead, we are ready to commission projects in one community after another, in the 13 wards and 14 communities of the local government is commendable”, he said.
While speaking during the commissioning, the Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike described the opportunity given to him and his team to serve Ikwerre people as a privilege.
According to him, “For me, the opportunity we have gotten to serve our people is a privilege. I tell my team that we are not the best in Ikwerre Local Government. Maybe, you don’t understand, Ikwerre Local Government has produced great men and women”.
Nwanosike said that they were performing greatly because they belong to PDP, adding that PDP members always deliver on their manifestos when elected into office.
He expressed his heartfelt joy to Aluu people for conferring on him a chieftaincy title, while dedicating the title to Governor Nyesom Wike for mentoring him.
“What the people of Aluu have done today has sent very strong message to my spirit man and to my community and my immediate family. It shows clearly the saying in the Bible; silver and gold I do not have, what I have I will appreciate you for what you have done for our people”, Nwanosike stated.
He reiterated his call on Wike to contest as Nigeria’s President, saying that Nigerians need him to replicate what he was doing in Rivers State across the country.
“If you go to the North-East today, it is Nyesom Wike they are calling on. If you go to the South-West, it is Nyesom Wike they are calling on. If you go to the Middle Belt, it is Nyesom Wike they are calling on. If you go to the South-South, it is Nyesom Wike they are calling on. If you go to the South-East, they are calling on Nyesom Wike. Why? Because the star of the Lord is on his head”, Nwanosike said.
He commended the Rivers State governor for taking the Value Added Tax (VAT) issue to the Supreme Court for interpretation, signing the Real Madrid Football Academy contract and construction of 10 flyovers in two years.
Speaking on behalf of the people of Aluu Community, the Councillor representing Ward 13 at Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, Hon Emeka Wali, said that the people of Aluu were grateful to Nwanosike for taking their community as his own, adding that they would do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture.
Highlights of the event were conferment of Eze Okwu Eme 1 of Aluu on Nwanosike by the Aluu Council of Chiefs, and the defection of an All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweight in Ward 13, Elder Samuel Wachukwu, to PDP.
The commissioning ceremony attracted most executive members of Rivers State PDP; the former Vice Chancellor of the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Prof Simeon Achinewhu; former Rivers State PDP Deputy Chairman, Sir Obiandu Owhochukwu; members of Ikwerre Legislative Assembly; members of Ikwerre Executive Arm; PDP stakeholders and leaders of Ikwerre LGA, amongst others.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.