Nation
We Have Empowered Over 2,000 Residents-LG Boss
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Barrister Otonye Briggs says the council is poised to improve the livelihood of all Akuku-Toru citizens.
Already , he disclosed that over 2,000 residents in the Local Government Area spread across the 17 wards in the area have benefitted from the monthly empowerment scheme initiated by CTC.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting with residents of the area in Abonnema at the weekend, Barrister Briggs averred that the people of the area are now enjoying the dividends of democracy following directives by the state governor on the CTC chairmen to ensure that the lives of the people are transformed.
In order to achieve the policy directive of the governor, the CTC Chairman stated that the council unveiled programmes that cut across all sectors of the LGA that include sanitation, free power supply and special grants to market women and traders.
Already, he stated that the CTC on assuming office offset arrears of the LG workers and other appointees.
On the grants to traders, he said,” the grants cover over 2,000 persons. And to ensure it gets to everyone, we have to create more three wards to reach those in the Oceania. And this is for administrative purposes.”
The grants he further explained range from N50,000 to N3million, and is geared towards stimulating economic growth in the LGA.
“Our cardinal objective is to make sure that every AKULGAN puts food on their table,” he said.
Barrister Briggs disclosed that in the coming days, the CTC will roll out more empowerment programmes by distributing vehicles, tricycles, hair dressing equipments, catering and exercise books to schools.
Aside these, he reiterated plans to support health, and educational programmes, including community policing in collaboration with stakeholders in the area.
On his part,a traditional ruler and statesman from the Local Government Area, His Highness Anabs Sara -Igbe has commended the CTC Chairman for his zeal in improving the welfare of the people in the area.
Chief Sara Igbe said the people are happy and ready to support the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The elderstateman observed that since the administration came to power, the people of Kalabari have enjoyed government attention and projects like the awarding of the Trans Kalabari Road, Sandfilling at Kula, appointed of their sons and daughters in government positions.
He assured that the people are ready to support the administration emphasizing that as “ Ijaw people we must support our own”.
Meanwhile, the CTC Chairman has distributed the Federal Government grains and rice palliatives to the 17 wards of the area.
Kevin Nengia
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”
“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.
” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.
The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi