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.
Politics
Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
Politics
2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Politics
Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations

The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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