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2023 Election’ll Be Fight To Finish, Wike Declares …As Fubara Pledges Shared Prosperity For ONELGA
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that the 2023 general election in the state would be a crucial moment that the electorate would use to decide against those who hate the state.
The governor said, therefore, the election would be a fight to finish, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in state was going to win all the elective seats at the end of the day.
Wike spoke at the Local Government Campaign Flag-off rally of the Rivers State PDP held at Felix Obuah Pavilion, Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), last Monday.
The Rivers State governor emphasised that at previous times when PDP went into election, it won the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and state House of Assembly seats, stressing that in the forthcoming elections, the situation would not be different.
Wike explained that when Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West local government areas of the state experienced flooding, last year, the state was abandoned to its fate.
“That is how you know those who hate Rivers State; that is how you know those who love us. If you hate Rivers State, we will not give you our vote. We will only give our votes to those who love Rivers State.
“You have to listen to your leaders through the DG (director general) of the campaign. They will come back to you, sit you down, and tell you where we are heading to.
“It is a fight to finish. Do not be afraid. We are going to win at the end of the day. You know that we have always won. We will continue to win.
“We have never failed in anything we have told you. Success has always been with us. God has been with us. This time is not going to be different. God will continue to lead us.”
Wike explained that on arrival in Omoku Town for the rally, they visited the Oba, who gave them his blessings.
“Oba has done the traditional thing by blessing us and telling us, go to the field, my people are there, they will be with you, they will stay with you, and we have seen it today.”
Wike urged the people not to listen to candidates and leaders of other political parties who may come to them to solicit their votes.
He pointed out that such persons failed them when they had the opportunity to fulfil promises they made and to deliver development projects to them.
“Do you allow those who were previously given the opportunity? They failed you. Is there anything they can tell you again? “
Wike implored the people to repeat the level of support that they gave to the PDP in 2015 and 2019 in order to consolidate what his administration had already accomplished.
The governor stressed that he made promises to the people of ONELGA, and had delivered development projects in the area in fulfilment of those promises.
Wike mentioned that even though the immediate past administration awarded the internal roads in Omoku for reconstruction and abandoned them, on assumption of office, he ensured the job was done.
He said that his administration would commission the Kregeni to Omoku Road, and the Omoku-Egbemaroad dualisation by the end of February.
He further stated that the phase two of Ahoada-Omoku Road had already been awarded, and would have street lights.
In his speech, the PDP governorship candidate, Sir SiminialayiFubara, recounted the successes of the Wike-led administration, which the consolidation team would re-enact.
He said there would be further development, particularly in ONELGA where the phase two of the Ahoada-Omoku Road would be completed to ease mobility in the area.
Fubara urged them to ensure they deliver overwhelming votes for the PDP, and be sure that they would enjoy the gains of being the gas hub of the state, experience sustained peace, economic empowerment and enhanced business opportunities.
“What we stand for is good governance. Good governance is providing services. Good governance is making life easy. That is what my principal has done for you, and that is where I stand with you.
“Let me also add, after our road for accessibility, Omoku will be a gas hub. You know what it means for your city to be a gas hub? Businesses will come, investments will come, and employment problem will be over.”
Fubara used the occasion to speak to the enthusiastic people of ONELGA on his plans and programmes for Rivers people when elected come March 11.
“When we visited the Oba of Ogbaland, he told us that we don’t necessarily need to campaign in ONELGA, and you are also telling us the same thing. This shows that you appreciate what Governor Wike has done in this LGA, and you also know what we will do when you bring the consolidation team on board.
“We have a reason for tagging this team consolidation; it is a special word that will bring further developments to Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and the entire Rivers State.
“The administration of Governor NyesomWike has constructed several roads in this LGA, and some are still ongoing. You cannot talk about development when there is no accessibility.
“What we stand for is good governance, good governance is securing lives and properties, providing good services, making life easier, and that is what my principal the governor has done for you, and that is where I stand,” the guber candidate said.
He further hinted on some of his plans for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area when elected governor of Rivers State.
“Omoku will be a gas hub under my administration, we will attract more oil and gas investors to invest here, more businesses will come, unemployment menace will be over.
“There is one important thing we must know; without peace there cannot be any meaningful development. As you can see, Governor NyesomWike has brought peace to this LGA. I will be succeeding a man who has ensured that ONELGA is peaceful, I will continue to maintain peace in this LGA,” he added.
Fubara seized the occasion to tell PDP faithful not to relent despite the overwhelming sign of victory, and urged them to go back home and sensitise more people on the need to vote PDP in the governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections.
Similarly, the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Prof. NgoziOrdu, highlighted some of the achievements PDP government of Sir Peter Odili, which she served as the commissioner for education, recorded in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni in the educational sector.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo HarryBanigo, who is Rivers West Senatorial District candidate, assured that if elected, the interest of the state would be jealously protected.
Banigo commended the Wike-led Rivers PDP for including more women and youths in governance, and promised to promote the growth of the state at the federal level.
On his part, the Director General of PDP Campaign Council, Bro Felix Obuah, said the people of ONELGA already, were PDP converts, who had vowed to use their PVCs to deliver all candidates of the party on Election Day.
The Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Amb Desmond Akawor, gave flags to the various PDP candidates contesting for various positions in the Rivers West Senatorial District.
Akawor said campaigning in ONELGA was like preaching to the already converted because it was a stronghold of PDP.
“We didn’t come here to campaign because campaigning in ONELGA is like preaching to the converted, ONELGA is a PDP stronghold. It is the LGA of the former chairman of our party in the state who is currently the DG of the campaign council. This is where the next deputy governor of the state comes from. We have never failed any election in this local government area, this time will not be an exception,” he said.
Earlier, Wike, who was accompanied by the deputy governor, the PDP governorship candidate and others, paid a courtesy call on the Oba of Ogbaland, Dr.Nwachukwu S. Obuoha, Obi III at his palace in Omoku.
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.