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Why We Confirmed Fakae, RSUST VC
The Rivers State Government has explained the reasons why it took the bold initiative to confirm the appointment of Prof Barineme Beke Fakae as vice chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, pulling the rug off the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) demand for a substantive vice chancellor of the premier university.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, George Feyii, yesterday, the government said it approved the substantive appointment of Fakae for a second tenure in conformity with the provisions of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Law, through a joint selection committee of members of Governing Council and Senate, set up for the purpose.
According to the statement, the committee shortlisted five candidates: Professors B. Onuegbu, M. Ahiakwo, N. Lale, B.B. Fakae and C. Enyinda for the position, adding that at the end of the selection process, only Professors B.B. Fakae and C. Enyinda were forwarded to the Visitor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi for consideration and appointment as vice chancellor.
Feyii explained that having taken into consideration all the dynamics of the office and the underlining intrigues preceding the nomination of the candidates, the governor, in exercise of his discretionary powers, chose Prof Barineme Beke Fakae.
Making further clarifications on the process leading to the announcement of the reappointment of Fakae, the government said that it was discovered that Professors Onuegbu, Ahiakwo, and Lale, who were also candidates in the selection process were involved in the nomination of members of the joint selection committee.
Specifically, the government pointed out that Professors Onuegbu and Ahiakwo nominated Professors Ogburia and S. Amadi as members of the joint selection committee while Professors Lale and Ahiakwo, who were members of the Governing Council nominated Amabipi Martins, Mrs Matilda Nondim, Chief Nemi Adoki, Deacon Abigo and Chief Wike into the joint selection committee.
“As candidates for the position of the vice chancellor, they are barred morally and legally from participating in the process of the selection of persons to be nominated into the body to determine their suitability as vice chancellors,” the government explained, adding that for this reason, “Professors Onuegbu, Ahiakwo and Lale were therefore disqualified from contesting for the position of vice chancellor.
“The fact that they were allowed to stand for the selection and were interviewed did not cure the initial defect and substantive disability,” the government said, stressing that, “the principle to be protected here is that, a candidate cannot choose his own judge.”
The statement further indicated that contrary to claims being made by ASUU and some other elements, in an attempt to deliberately misinform and mislead the public, the appointment of Professor Barineme Beke Fakae as vice chancellor was done in accordance with due process.
The government highlighted other factors which boosted Professor Fakae’s credentials to include the fact that although his appointment in 2008 was challenged by ASUU, that suit was struck out for lack of merit.
Others are the fact that on assumption of office in 2008, less than 20 per cent of courses run by RSUST had Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation but at the expiration of Fakae’s first tenure, 100 per cent of courses run by the university had been accredited.
The government said it was proud that “out of 124 universities in the country, RSUST is not only among the top 27 considered qualified for visitation by NUC for the purposes of institutional accreditation but it is now institutionally accredited with an impressive score of 67.25 per cent, and rated “A” in the second category to operate as a university for the next five years.”
In addition, the government said that Rivers people happy that “RSUST has moved up from 76th position on the World Webometric Rating of Nigerian universities to the 19th position,” emphasizing that cultism, which was at its highest peak some years ago, leading to the death of students in their numbers, has been stamped out completely.
The statement restated the government’s commitment to achieving excellence in education at all levels as evident in the educational programmes being pursued by the administration, adding that the governor respects and upholds the rule of law, and has strived to conduct the affairs of the state according to law.
The government, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders including ASUU to embrace measures that will ensure the return of students and lecturers to the classrooms in the overall interest of the state’s future educational development.
Nelson Chukwudi
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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