Politics
Amaechi Promises N5bn Support To Rivers People
Following a disparaging statement by Presidnet Goodluck
Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe on the person of Governor Chibuike Amaechi last week, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, David Iyofor has described Okupe as President Jonathan’s worst enemy.
In a press statement he issued on Sunday last week, Iyofor urged President Jonathan to get rid of Okupe and other of his aides who resort to name calling than addressing public issues.
The president’s aide, the statement noted, was descending low to “become the Chief Advocate and Defender-In-Chief of the commissioner of police, Rivers State, Mbu . J. Mbu.”
Okupe had attributed the heightened call for Mbu’s redeployment to political machinations by the state governor. But Iyofor replied that “it is certainly rude, uncharitable, il-mannered and hypocritical for Okupe to falsely and superciliously allege that Amaechi is a willing tool to any person or group against President Jonathan.
Returning from Abuja on Monday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi commissioned the Eleme Regional Water Scheme, jointly built by the Rivers State Government. While expressing appreciation for the role Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited played in providing potable wate to the people of Eleme and environs he urged the people to guard against vandalisation of the facility.
Amaechi however, harped on the need for sustenance of the water scheme through the setting up of a Water Development Authority in Eleme. But commissioners for Water Resources/Rural Development, Ms Patricia Simon-Hart noted that a Water Consumer Association has been established in each of the clans to oversee the management of the scheme.
Early on Tuesday, Governor Amaechi swore-in a new Acting Chief Judge of the State in the person of Justice Peter Agumagu. Until his appointment, Justice Agumagu was the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal.
Amaechi later said, “We looked at the constitution and the constitution says the most senior Judge of the High Court and we looked at your appointment and compared it to the rest of the judges in the State and realised that you are the most senior judge in the State.”
On the same day, he processed to unveil the 2013 “Job Fair,” jointly organized by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and the Ministry of Employment Generation.
The governor tasked the youths to be innovative as a way of engaging themselves… “If you continue to wait for the job fair to be organised annually for you to get employment, you may end up dying of hunger and poverty. You must therefore be creative.”
He promised to release N5billion to provide financial support to people who are ready to be self-reliant and innovative to borrow at subsidized low cost to set up their own business.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wogu Boms shortly after a meeting with Niger Delta Bishops Forum addressed press men over reactions trailing the appointments of Acting Chief Judge of the State.
He said, “Justice PNC Agumagu, the Acting Chief Judge is the oldest judge (in terms of service) now in Rivers State. There is no judge older in appointment than he is and Justice Agumagu was appointed a High Court Judge. He was never appointed a Customary Court of Appeal Judge.”
Boms went on to explain that there was nothing illegal or unconstitutional about Agumagu’s appointment, adding that, “you are aware that there was a recommendation by the National Judicial Commission as to who would be Chief Judge. The State government is processing that and we sent it to parliament which is the next step, so before that is done we appointed the Most Senior Judge as Acting Chief Judge.”
On Friday, State Governor addressed protesting nurses from the school of Nursing and school of Midwifery through Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker over kidnap of their teacher, Mrs Beauty Frank Daminabo. They called on the government to intensify efforts to free her. They lamented that the development has affected academic activities.
Chief of Staff Government House, Sir Tony Okocha on Saturday commended the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor and his wife over the free medical scheme, and pledged government support.
Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability has condemned the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Executive Secretary, Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke, who said this in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt also described as illegal all legislations passed by the defected lawmakers.
Amb. Nkweke described the defection as “monkey politics’, queried the rational behind the action of the lawmakers few months after being sworn into office, adding that members of the civil society community were yet to be told reasons for the defection.
“Up till now, we are yet to be told why they defected just few months of being sworn into office. For me, that is monkey politics”, he said.
He urged the lawmakers to go back to their former party and beg Rivers people for forgiveness, adding that if that is done, they may be welcomed back.
Amb. Nkweke also cautioned the lawmakers not to allow themselves to be used to do the bidding of an individual, adding that the present administration in the state needs the support of all to move forward.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the group has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for giving civil societies the latitude to operate freely in the state.
He alleged that civil societies were caged in the last eight years, adding that there was no breathing space for civil societies in the last eight years in the state.
Amb. Nkweke described civil society as the engine room of democracy as it engages in sensitisation on the policies and programmes of government, regretting, however, that their inputs were never taken into considerations.
“Civil societies give signals, civil society creates the awareness and sensitize the people towards achieving a reliable democracy.
‘’i want to let you know, very frankly, that civil society space in Rivers State, for the past eight years, was suffocated. There was no breathing space, they didn’t breathe. Civil society was dead completely”, he said.
Amb. Nkweke said the situation also affected upcoming activists as some of them had to operate from hideouts.
By: John Bibor
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu not to condone incompetent personalities in his government.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Pedro Obi, expressed concerns about the competence of the Minister of State for Youth Development and the SSA to the President on Student Engagement.
Comrade Obi, after staging a peaceful protest at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), reiterated that the NANS will not be intimidated and will continue to fight for the interests of Nigerian students.
He said, “The message is very simple, we have incompetent people who have been appointed to offices. It’s unfortunate and it’s not the President’s fault, of course he believes in Nigerian youths and has also given us the opportunity to showcase our capacity in various roles that he has given us.
“We have the SSA to the President on Student Engagement, who has shown incompetence. He cannot continue to hold that office and we are calling on Mr. President that he should be sacked with immediate effect.
“Also we have the Minister of State for Youth Development. We are also calling that immediately he should be sacked, because he has left what he ought to do and has dabbled into the affairs of NANS.
“These people have displayed incompetence and are destroying the youth community. There are so many competent youths that President Tinubu can pick from.
“NANS can never be intimidated. This is an organisation that we grew up to meet and we will continue to protect the dignity of this organisation.”
Receiving the NANS on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the SGF, Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, assured the NANS of relaying back their complaints to the SGF which he said will land on the listening ears of President Tinubu.
According to him, “I have listened to the complaints you raised. I assure you that your complaints will get to the listening ears of Mr. President.
“Let me assure you that I’m happy this was also re-echoed in the NANS President’s speech that President Tinubu has indebt love for the youths of Nigeria and also for the students of Nigeria. This has been demonstrated by polices that (has) been put in place for the youths.
“I want to assure you that the President has your concerns in his heart and he’s always ever ready to attend to your needs.
“With this, I am going to report back to my boss the SGF, who will take up the matter with the President. I urge you to continue to maintain peace and tranquillity. Don’t do anything that will make Mr. President feel bad about you.”
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, has withdrawn the court action he instituted against the party over his controversial removal from office barely two years into his four year term.
His action has removed legal impediments likely to militate against the emergence of his replacement from the North Central.
Several meetings have been held and being planned following this new development.
On Tuesday, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) passed a vote of confidence on the Ag. National Chairnan, Amb. Umar Damagum, whom members said has discharged his functions creditably.
It was gathered that the North Central Caucus of the party had long before now started mobilizing to ensure that the zone produces Ayu’s replacement to complete his tenure which expires in 2025.
In a related development, Amb. Damagum has held series of meetings with various groups to perhaps shore up his chances of retaining his seat as acting chairman.
He led the members of the NWC on Wednesday to interact with the PDP National Ex-officio ahead of the NEC meeting.
Immediately after the meeting with them, he led the NWC members to another meeting with the State Party Chairmen from the 36 States, including FCT, Abuja.
The meetings were held at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, in Abuja.
-
Oil & Energy5 days agoOil Fund Withdrawals Suggest Extended Price Rally
-
World5 days agoNigerian Police Emerge Best At US Training Programme In Jordan
-
Politics2 days agoKano High Court Voids Ganduje’s APC Membership
-
News2 days agoJunior Pope: Precious Ofurum’ll Get Deserved Honour, Fubara Assures
-
Opinion5 days agoCautious Optimism As Naira Rebounds
-
News5 days agoFG Unveils Plans For Inland Waterways, Coastal Services
-
News2 days agoRivers, 30 Others At Risk Of Flooding, FG Warns
-
Nation5 days agoSenators, Reps To Resume Plenary In Remodelled Main Chambers