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Mark, Others Back Amaechi On State Police … As Senate Probes N135bn Police Reform Fund

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L-R: Chairman, Commomwealth Business Council, Mr Mohan Kowl, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom and Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Special Duties, Mr Isiah Balat, at the Commonwealth Business Forum during 2013 CHOGM in Colombo , Sri Lanka, yesterday.

L-R: Chairman, Commomwealth Business Council, Mr Mohan Kowl, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom and Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Special Duties, Mr Isiah Balat, at the Commonwealth Business Forum during 2013 CHOGM in Colombo , Sri Lanka, yesterday.

In tune with the position of the Rivers State Governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the leadership of the senate has thrown its weight behind the creation of state police.
President of the Senate, David Mark and Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, were among those who spoke in favour of state police at plenary yesterday, echoing the position of Governor Amaechi who had remained vocal in his conviction that the creation of state police would promote true federalism and effective policing of the federation.
Contributing to the debate, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, opined that the time was ripe to create State Police, saying that the Nigeria Police Force is suffering from “structural defect”.
Ndoma-Egba spoke further: “The mentality of the police is still rooted in our colonial history.
“No matter how much you bring, you are not going to change the police. “The idea of a single police for all the country is inconsistent with a federal system. “This motion affords us the opportunity to restructure the police in line to what is obtainable in federalism.”
The Senate leader’s position was supported by Umaru Dahiru (PDP-Sokoto), who also canvassed for creation of State Police, adding: “I will certainly support the creation of State Police as 2015 approaches.
“As it is today, nobody can trust the Federal Police to provide security for the people.
The time is ripe for us to include State Police as key issue for discussion at the national conference.”
Senator Smart Adeyemi (PDP- Kogi), in his contribution, stressed the need to reappraise the manner police funds are being disbursed.
According to Adeyemi: “We need to find out what is happening to their allocation and how money is being disbursed to the Police. “There is nothing wrong with having a State Police.
“We must begin to look at ways to make a policeman committed and passionate about his job by providing them with the good things of life.”
Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) also backed the call for State Police, saying the issue deserves all seriousness and should therefore, not be trivialized.
Tinubu said: “The entire nation is not happy with the Police. “We requested for State Police but many of us voted against it here. “We as the Senate can do something about it right here before it even gets to the national conference.”
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the lawmakers must take a decision to secure the nation, calling for urgent decentralization of the police.
Ekweremadu said: “About N140 billion had been made available for the reforms between 2010 and 2013 but unfortunately with these huge funds, we are not going to achieve anything with the Police. “We must make up our minds to secure our people by decentralising the Police.”
On his part, the Senate President, David Mark, also backed those calling for creation of State Police to effect structural changes for effective policing.
Mark said: “I used to be a strong advocate of federal government police or central police.
“I am sure you have noticed that sometimes ago I also changed my mind to say that maybe we should experiment with State Police and see what it is. “There are basic problems with the current system but we must try to address them in a manner that has nothing to do with politics in any form at all because if this country does not survive, we will not play politics also.”
Meanwhile, Senate yesterday resolved to investigate whether the sum of N135 billion released for police reforms between 2010 and 2013 had been judiciously spent or not.
This followed a motion tabled at plenary by Abubakar Tutare (PDP-Taraba) on the level of funding and implementation of the Nigeria Police Reform Programme.
According to Tutare, despite huge sums already committed into the reform programme, there is nothing to show for it.
Consequently, the Upper Chamber mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to look into the books of the police as it relates to the reform programme.
In 2010, the Federal government came up with a reform agenda, which is aimed at addressed lack of offices, residential accommodation, operational vehicles as well as communication equipment so as to make the police more professional.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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