News

Amaechi: Labour Activist Lashes Clark

Published

12 years ago

September 6, 2013

In the unfolding political drama in the country, a labour and political activist in Rivers State, Comrade James Kobah, has called on Ijaw leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin. K. Clark to leave the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi alone and refrain from witch-hunting him.
Comrade Kobah while bemoaning the political travails of Governor Amaechi, accused the Ijaw leader of misleading President Goodluck Jonathan in the current political crisis in the country.
He said Chief Clark did not show political wisdom when he recently called for the immediate expulsion of the Rivers State governor from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for alleged anti-party activities. He called on Clark to go home and “rest since he has nothing to offer Mr President”.
He added that the Ijaw leader should also be held responsible for the failure of the Jonathan administration.
Comrade Kobah spoke when he addressed a cross section of the media in Port Harcourt last Wednesday.
“Chief Clark says he has a new wife at 84. He should rest at home and manage his new wife. He should rest at home and enjoy his new wife since he has nothing to offer Mr President. We are not happy over what is going on now in the state, especially when people like Chief E. K. Clark are involved in misleading Mr President (Goodluck Jonathan). We want to ask him (Clark) to leave Amaechi and Rivers State alone. He can continue to deceive Mr President if Mr President decides to accept his advice. There is a crisis in which people, governors, national and state Assembly members are pulling out of the PDP and he’s still there deceiving Mr. President.
“When Amaechi became governor of this state, yes, most of us anticipated that he would have problems with some people because of his philosophy, his concept of government. You know he (Amaechi) is one who enjoyed justice to become governor of this state, so I think that influenced his character, and of course, his very first pronouncement was that this government is not a continuation of any previous government. Government House was spending about N1.3 billion monthly on Government House. When Amaechi came in he cut it to about N400 million. This shows some level of prudence and commitment. There should be no bias about it.”
He described Governor Amaechi as a brilliant and focused political leader who should not be punished for ‘nursing’ any political ambition, if he has any.
Kobah emphasised the strategic importance of Rivers State in the electoral fortunes of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), recalling that the state gave President Jonathan massive votes in the 2011 elections. “Whether we like it or not, Rivers State is critical to any election in this country”, he said.
On the prospect of the PDP reconciling its aggrieved members, the activist said while he would welcome reconciliation in the party, it would be dangerous for the country if the progressive-minded ones in the party would stop the struggle for true development on the altar of reconciliation.
He said, “If you believe in a cause which people have now bought into, why not, if they want to resolve, but it will be unfair for them and dangerous for this country that the progressives that have emerged collapse under any form of resolution, negotiation, except their idea of development should go on. I am one man who doesn’t believe in being loyal to stupidity. I never did that in my life. What I believe in is what I follow”.
He noted that the Rivers State governor would not be subdued by his political enemies because God is on his side. Again, he said Governor Amaechi succeeds because there is some level of justice in all the actions he had taken.
“Of course, you can see that Amaechi’s cause is being fought by God. There is no way he could have survived in the system till today if God is not on his side, and so, every action anybody takes without some dosage of justice in it, doesn’t survive.
“Amaechi is succeeding today because there is some level of justice in all the actions he had taken. So we are not happy about what Chief Clark is doing. I think that he is making Mr President to fail both in his administration and even his second term ambition, he said.

A faction of Mile One Rumuwoji Market Traders Association protesting the removal of their chairman in Port Harcourt last Wednesday

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.