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Be Pillar Of Support To Fubara, Wike Tells Opobo People
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has told the people of Opobo kingdom to resist any temptation that will make them antagonise the incoming administration led by Sir Siminalayi Fubara, when he eventually gets sworn-in, today.
Wike reminded them of how hard Opobo people tried in 2015 to produce a governor but failed.
He noted that at God’s appointed time, they have a governor and it behoves of them to rally round their son to ensure that he succeeds.
Speaking on Saturday in Opobo town during the inauguration of the land reclamation project and flag-off of a Ring Road in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Wike charged the people not to join those who will pull the governor-elect down.
“We also urge all of you who are from Opobo to continue to give your son support. Do not be the one that will fight him. Do not be the one that will pull him down. Be his engine room. Be his pillar.
“While others are trying to drag him down, you should be trying to make him stand firm. This is very important. To have a governor from your area is not easy. You know in 2015 you tried it, it didn’t work. Now that it is God’s time has it not worked?”
The governor who will be handing over to Fubara today, expressed joy that he was in Opobo to inaugurate the reclaimed land of over 20 hectares, which will solve the problem of land in the area.
“I thank God that we have done the land reclamation and now flagging off the Ring Road project. So, after today, you’re not only coming to Opobo to park your vehicles here, you can also drive round Opobo and go to your various families”, he said.
Wike remarked on how beneficial the previously sandfilled land and the new one that is being inaugurated can be planned out together before being allocated to the people.
He said he had talked to the governor-elect on the importance of designing an integrated plan that will serve both areas.
“This is because I know now that it will be more beneficial by the time he settles down in office, and then they will design roads and then you’ll be able to get a good impact.
“So, I’m happy that that has not been done, so that you can do it together. I heard that the ring road that we are going to flag-off will also pass this area”, he said.
He assured that the incoming administration led by Fubara will deliver more infrastructure in Opobo kingdom.
Wike thanked the Opobo people and their Amanyanabo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, for their electoral support during the 2023 general election and in the last eight years.
Former Commissioner for Special projects, Deinma Iyalla, explained that 20 hectares of land were reclaimed, which means about 430 plots of land area can be deployed for housing development.
According to him, an approximately 600,000 cubic meters volume of sand was dredged at the height of 3 meters to ensure tidal water does not wash off the sand.
Similarly, the former Commissioner for Works, George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, explained that the total length of the Opobo Ring road is 4.2KM and has three number short span bridges.
He said it is expected that the contractor will be doing all the works concurrently with the three bridges so that the target completion time of 10 months will be achieved.
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.