News
Before Wednesday: Longest Tuesday …Reliving Mood Of Rivers People… On That Day
None could say for sure from whence it came or from whose lips it first emanated but in the days leading to Wednesday, April 21, 2010, particularly Tuesday, a thick dark cloud enveloped Port Harcourt and environs and indeed most parts of Rivers State.
This was not the type meteorologists often warn against, nor the recent acid rain alarm that shook parts of the state. It was even more frightening because it came along, with not merely thunder and lightening. This came with uncertainty, fear of the future, agony over a development drive about to be cut-short and above all else, a total displacement of the status quo.
Strangely, rather than let the apprehensive Rivers people see sunlight, this rare climatic condition thickened, darker and darker to a point when revealed its true identity – Viscious Rumour.
So eloquent, certain, arrogant, ambitious and brazen in manufacture of lies, Rumour went round town that Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi would by Wednesday cease to superintend the affairs of the state, as governor (the first to shed-executive), and vacate the seat for Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, the Accord Party candidate in the April 14, 2007 Governorship elections in the state.
Why Accord Party? When the well known and truly grounded parties in Rivers State, those with officers even at the unit levels, not to talk of wards and local government areas, are only two? The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others which should hardly include the party in question?
Ever so certain, Rumour still said emphatically that the Appeal Court billed to sit in Port Harcourt past Wednesday, had reached a verdict already. A verdict that Bekinbo Soberekon would have been duly elected if his photograph had been on the ballot papers. And for that “costly slip” the Appeal Tribunal had resolved that the rightful winner – being Soberekon be sworn-in as EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, the type, his type treasures.
Seriously, so strong was the exactitude of Rumour’s eloquence that even those trusted to reassure their followers were also doubtful of what to say and so could say very little to counter the faithful agents of Rumour. Indeed, some were even rumoured to have started packing personal valuables, off offices in event of Amaechi’s tenure coming to an end, while, a good majority of Rivers people mourned, for their beloved leader still alive.
Pa Berthwell Nyeduko, a retired Shell contract staff from Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area told The Tide it would sheer madness for any court to unseat Amaechi, if for nothing else, the good job he is doing now. “If a man becomes governor pre-occupation has been to share money to friends and families, siphon their and prepare over seas escape, decides to make such a huge difference as Amaechi the Youngman is making why should anyone stop him? “the Papa queried.
But the rumours got even more dangerous, more convincing and with the likelihood of igniting some reactions among aggrieved Rivers youths and which apparently became even more compelling for government to douse the tension created by Rumour. Chief Nyesom Wike, the Chief of Staff, Government House did his best to calm the fears when he assured the citizenry that the issue was not about the removal of the Governor, but ruling on motions.
Yet, Rivers people continued their brooding, uncertain of whether Wike spoke to them through the media as a lawyer or a diplomat. Strangely, no where in both Port Harcourt and environs did The Tide news crew find any group celebrating what had been rumoured to be the imminent ouster of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
However, Rivers people witnessed the longest Tuesday in history with many wondering when and if the day had probably been increased to 36 hours. But when it finally did end and ushered Wednesday, it was a joyous sigh of relief that Amaechi stays as governor and indirectly told Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, a man who many had thought, would let go long ago, that his case that made all the hype lacked the merit he attached to it, a verdict Rivers people interpreted to mean the New Rivers State has moved far beyond his kind of leadership style and promise.
What Rives people are celebrating today are the beautiful model schools, many health centres, good roads, overseas scholarship for brilliant children, futuristic development of the city and above all transparency and accountability, and not what Late Reginald Furo often associated with bad politicians, the 3-W’s of political failure – ill-gotten wealth, women and wine. Not today.
Alas, the ballot paper in question has been vindicated, that now is not the time.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
News
Shettima In Ethiopia For State Visit

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers

The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
News
Tinubu Orders Civil Service Personnel Audit, Skill Gap Analysis

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.
-
News5 days ago
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
-
Politics5 days ago
Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov
-
Featured5 days ago
Tinubu Signs Four Tax Reform Bills Into Law …Says Nigeria Open For Business
-
News5 days ago
Shettima In Ethiopia For State Visit
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
RSNC Head Charges NAOMEW On Professionalism, Effective Service Delivery