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Rivers PDP Renews Call For Peace, Warns Against Balkanising Party
The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Chukwuemeka Aaron, has again warned those trying to create confusion in the party to desist or face unpleasant action.
Aaron, who gave the advice during a meeting with local government council chairmen, local government party chairmen and State Executive Committee of the party at the Party Secretariat, in Port Harcourt, recently, said the advice was necessary in order not to exacerbate the fledgling political atmosphere in the state.
He urged them to maintain neutrality in the quest to finding amicable resolution of the impasse between the FCT minister and the governor.
The acting PDP state chairman, who said that some people were trying to bring ethnicity and tribal sentiments into the imbroglio, maintained it was a family matter.
He also expressed regret that some people were taking side with either the governor or the minster, noting that such moves were not in the interest of unity in the party in the state.
He urged local government council chairmen, local government party chairmen and party Executive to articulate ways of bringing peace to the party and, not to balkanize it.
“For those of you that want to do eye service to balkanize the party, I will not allow it. This party will not scatter during my own time”, he said.
Aaron also cautioned against formation of support groups, saying those doing so want to distract the governor from implementing his development plans for the state.
The state acting chairman also advised local government council chairmen to warn their media aides, especially those on social media to stop posting all sorts of damaging materials on the social media against the FCT minister and the governor, stressing that their action was escalating the situation.
“Our supporters who I think come from the various LGAs are not helping matters. The kind of thing I see in the social media is something else. Some of these are social media people which you employ and are paying them. I cannot condone that under my leadership because they want to balkanize this party and I will not allow this to happen, so please warn them to stop”, he warned.
Aaron, who also disclosed that another reason for the meeting was to formally inform them that he has taken over the affairs of the party following the resignation of the former State Chairman, Amb Desmond Akawor, solicited their support.
“I supported Amb Desmond Akawor. I supported the Exco. Now that I am here, I also need your support to enable this party forge ahead”, he pleaded.
The South-South Zonal Treasurer of PDP, Mrs Evelyn Nweke, expressed sadness that members of the party from the state can no longer walk with their shoulders high due to what is happening in the party today, and enjoined party stalwarts to preach peace and unity in the party.
The Secretary of the party, Dr Benibo George, who called for absolute obedience to party supremacy, said this would engender respect, love and unity in the party.
“The moment we are cohesive, we are together, nobody can bring us down. PDP will remain indivisible”, he said.
George, while calling for vigilance from all party members, told LGA party chairmen to get clearance from the party leadership at the state level before carting out any party activity, and thanked them for turning up for the meeting.
The Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Allwell Ihunda, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen, thanked Governor Siminialayi Fubara for making the state peaceful.
He congratulated Hon Chukwuemeka Aaron on his appointment as the acting chairman of the PDP, pledging support and loyalty of the council chairmen to him and members of the Executive Committee.
There was a question and answer session by both the council chairmen and the LGA party chairmen during the session.
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.