Politics
Amaechi Reasures Of Improved Education
Last week was full of activities for Governor Chibuike Amaechi in Government House. On return from Abuja at the weekend, the governor opened the 3rd Rivers State Education Summit in Port Harcourt.
He spoke passionately about the efforts made by his administration at improving education at all levels. Amaechi who described education as an essential tool for development cautioned against politicising this all important sector.
The governor said primary education is the foundation for good education, explaining that his administration redesigned primary education with appropriate curriculum, content and qualified teachers to deliver the best.
Amaechi who spoke at the conference in the company of Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof Banjo and Prof Nimi Briggs, including other prominent stakeholders in the health sector further directed the Ministry of Education to issue appointment letters to applicants who have scaled through the teacher’s recruitment exercise.
On Tuesday, Governor Amaechi took a brief time off from the two-day education forum to conduct some projects inspection. He visited the Ogbogoro and Eliparanwo roads.
While calling for patience from the people, Rt. Hon. Amaechi assured of government quest to ensure that the roads are built and delivered.
At Eliparanwo, he said, “Everybody must be patient, now we are taking our time to build storm water drainage on the left side of the road which is sub-surface, on the right you have covered drains”.
On the Ogbogoro axis, Amaechi remarked, “We are rebuilding completely. We see these roads as new roads because there were no drainages. You can see the drainage, they are sub-surface drains”. Same Tuesday, Governor Amaechi received Ogonis who paid a solidarity visit to him in Government House and led by chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, King Godwin Ginwa.
The people made known their commitment to support the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’, “Your Excellency in 2011 elections, the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality delivered an overwhelming vote towards your re-election as the Executive Governor of Rivers State”, declared Justice Peter Akere (rtd), who read the group’s address.
They expressed pride over the governor’s continued transparent, selfless and courageous determination to speak the truth at all times, and commended his achievements so far in the state.
The Governor played host to the Minister of Niger Delta, Chief Godsday Orubebe on Wednesday. Chief Orubebe told Amaechi that the Federal Government had approved the setting up of a council on the Niger Delta to allow various stakeholders meet at least once every year to discuss mind-boggling issues of the region.
The minister also intimated Rt. Hon. Amaechi of the level of work on the East-West Road starting that, “Your Excellency by 2010, we came to realize that, the road is having 42 bridges, spanning from 70 metres to 850 metres. But we have 786 culvert and have completed 37 out of the 42 bridges”.
On his part, Amaechi opined that the Niger Delta Master Plan would be a signature project that may promote speedy development and progress in the Niger Delta, adding “I must say that, you and I are from the Niger Delta, this is the best chance that we have. We can never have this kind of opportunity again… We can’t complain and we can’t afford to fail”.
Rt. Hon. Amaechi, declared open the Rivers State Water Conference on Wednesday and tasked development partners – the World Bank, African Development Bank and European Union to release the loan, to enable the government carryout the new state water project.
On Friday, he attended the Civil Society Forum where he enumerated the success of his administration. Most especially, he noted that apart from executing developmental projects, the administration has pushed up internally generated revenue from 2.5 billion to about N6 billion monthly.
Governor Amaechi believed that a robust internally generated revenue will help drive development and instill transparent governance.
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.
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