News

PDP Crisis: Suspension ’ll Harden G7 – Saraki

Published

12 years ago

November 13, 2013

Former governor of Kwara state and Senator representing Kwara Central, Senator Bukola Saraki described the suspension of four key members of the Peoples Democratic Party faction (New PDP) on Monday by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as a serious setback capable of truncating all the reconciliatory moves on ground and will only harden the G7 governors of the party.

Senator Bukola Saraki expressed this feeling in a media chat with Senate Correspondents in Abuja yesterday.

Saraki, one of the strong supporters of the G7 governors expressed surprise over why the suspension of the former National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Kawu Baraje, among others, should come when the appeal court sitting in Abuja passed a judgment recognising Oyinlola as the authentic national secretary of the party.

He said that the court judgment was an opportunity for reconciliation, regretting that the recent suspension of the four aggrieved members of the party was an attempt to circumvent the court judgment.

His words: “We woke up to read in the papers today that some key members of a faction in the Peoples Democratic Party had been suspended. I believe its unfortunate. It is a means of circumventing the ruling of the court.

“We should not take the issue of the rule of law with levity. Since a court had ruled that Oyinlola should resume as Secretary of the party, PDP should comply with the judgment of the court. These are some of the issues that some of us are angry about. The PDP will be there, long after Oyinlola, long after everybody.

“Apart from the issue of reconciliation, there is other issue and this cannot help our democracy. The party is an institution that we are all holding in trust. We must all protect that institution not by being emotional or by expressing sentiments. The process sometimes could work in your favour, sometimes it may not.

“The executive there now will not be there forever. It is very, very sad because some of us have continued to fight on how we can bring peace to the party. All these things being done are behind the scene. We should give peace a chance.”

Senator Saraki said that the Party’s NEC decision was an ill wind that will blow nobody good and that if the leadership of the party should insist on suspending the aggrieved PDP members, every peace move already in motion and as intanced by the court pronouncement on Oyinlola would only be scuttled.

On the wranglings tailing the recent LG elections in his state, Kwara, Saraki pointed out that the National executive of the PDP participated in the local government election and that there are evidences to show that.

“Unfortunately 24 hours to the election, the national executive got lawyer to write a letter saying this is the new list of candidates. How did the list emerge? These are some of the actions that we are seeing in the party and before it is too late, this action must stop.”He concluded.

L-R: Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev I. C. O. Kattey JP, former Military Administrator of Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe and member, Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Gokana Constituency, Hon. Innocent Barikor, during Life Member Conference Fund Raising for the Bible House Project, organized by the Bible Society of Nigeria, Rivers/Bayelsa Area, in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Obinna Prince Dele

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

18 hours 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

19 hours 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

19 hours 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.