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I’m On Oath To Protect Lives, Property –Amaechi

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Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has given more assurance on security in the state, saying he is on oath to secure lives and property of people of the state.

Governor Amaechi spoke during a Town Hall meeting with the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of the state at the council headquarters in Omoku last Wednesday.

“The only responsibility in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the governor has is the responsibility he swears to on oath that ‘I will secure lives and property’. That is my responsibility to you. I promise you as I stand that I will continue to do that, to protect lives and property. We will continue to give all the necessary support to security agencies to restore law and order in ONELGA.”

“You know, there are two angles to this. One angle is me, I will give my necessary support but the police must also be ready to do their work. We believe that the new Police Commissioner is equipped like the former one to deal with the situation. But before you boo at your chairman, know that he does not have powers to arrest the situation, only the police can. In fact, it is the Federal Government’s responsibility to secure us but we as governors must work with our Commissioners of Police to ensure that you are secure but give us just one month to sit down and arrest the situation”, he said.

Amaechi said his administration had completed five primary healthcare centres in the local government with the sixth one under construction at Akabuka.

He listed the five model primary healthcare centres already in use to include the one in Ase Azagah, Omoku, Mgbede, Okwuzi and Ebocha.

The governor said, “You know, I promised to tell you the truth all the time. So here, out of six, five of them (primary healthcare centres) are completed and in use, so here we have done 90 per cent”.

He assured that his administration would complete ongoing road projects in the local government and reconstruct internal roads and drainages in the council headquarters, Omoku.

On education, Amaechi disclosed that funds had been disbursed to the State Ministry of Education to complete all model primary schools under construction in the local government.

“We assume that 60 per cent of the primary schools we started in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area are yet to be completed and what we have done, I can tell you is that we have released money to Commissioner for Education to start the completion of all primary schools we have not completed, so Omoku and all those areas will benefit”.

He listed the completed model primary schools in the local government to include Community Primary School, Ndoni, Community School, Obiede-Erema, State School, Obrikom, St. Stephens Primary School, Omoku, amongst others.

Amaechi reiterated that primary and secondary schools in the state were free and warned school heads not to collect any fees from students and pupils.

According to him, the state government had also awarded scholarships to 118 students from the local government to study in universities abroad.

He promised to build a model secondary school in the local government once the land was provided by the council and the people and spoke about plans to establish an agricultural investment in the area. He also urged the youths to be disciplined.

Earlier, Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Raymond Nwokocha in an address of welcome praised Governor Amaechi for the Town Hall meeting initiative and commended him for his developmental strides.

”Indeed, His Excellency’s vision of periodically fraternising with the people of Rivers State aimed at acquainting the people with the policies and programmes of government, as well as identifying their pressing needs is highly appreciated. This is because, holding wider consultation, identifying the plight of the people and responding swiftly to them are the hallmark of sound democratic practice.

“Your Excellency Sir, there is no gainsaying the fact that you have recorded an indelible mark on the sands of time in terms of your giant development strides in the state. These various projects, ranging from model secondary schools, model primary schools, model health centres and roads etc., are all located throughout the length and breadth of the state, while most of these projects have been delivered, some of them are at various stages of completion. In addition, a good number of scholarship awards have been given to our students both at the undergraduate and post graduate levels, within and outside Nigeria. Above all, your swift intervention in the various crises that threatened the corporate existence of our area averted an impending breakdown of law and order that was cleverly masterminded by some social miscreants”.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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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

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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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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