News

Amaechi, Ijaw Leaders Mourn INC President

Published

12 years ago

November 22, 2013

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has described as sad and painful the sudden death of the President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Senator Tari Sekibo.
A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. David Iyofor, said the late Sekibo a medical doctor was a great Nigerian and a Rivers son, whose commitment to the Ijaw nation and the country was commendable.
“Tari Sekibo was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a great son of Rivers State. His election as the President of the INC further established his disposition as a leader, loved by his people”, the governor said.
Amaechi who condoled with the family of the deceased and the entire Ijaw nation urged them to draw strength from the fact that Sekibo was an accomplished leader and elder statesman.
He prayed God to grant the family of Sen. Sekibo peace in their time of sorrow.
Ijaws in the Eastern part of the Niger Delta described the sudden death of the INC President, Senator Sekibo as a great loss to the Ijaw nation.
A cross section of Ijaw elders who spoke to The Tide on the issue said, the death had created ugly vacuum as far as the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) was concerned.
To Prof Atuboyedia Obianime, a former President of Ijaw National Congress INC), the death of Senator Tari Sekibo was a great loss to Ijaw nation and Nigeria at large.
Prof. Obianime described the late Sekibo as a highly achieved man with a lot of experience and contributed so much in service of the society.
President Goodluck Jonathan had expressed sadness over the sudden death of the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Tari Sekibo.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President extended his condolences to Chief Sekibo’s family, the people of his hometown, Okrika, the leadership of the INC and all Ijaw people.
The President believed that Chief Sekibo, who brought immense sagacity, maturity and years of political experience to his leadership of the INC following his election as its President last May, would be greatly missed by the Ijaws and all lovers of peaceful co-existence and national unity.
The senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Thompson Sekibo described the incident as very shocking, and that the late INC leader was an elder statesman and public servant of inestimable value whose contribution to the state, the Ijaw people and Nigeria are worthy of note.
He recalled that the deceased represented his people effectively in the Second Republic as a member of the House of Representatives and later as a Senator and said that the political class will miss his wise counsel.
The Bayelsa state government declared three-day mourning in honour of the late President of the Ijaw National Congress.
Governor Seriake Dickson described his death as sudden and a loss not only to Ijaw nation but Nigeria as a whole noting his wealth of experience and contribution to the development of Ijaw nation.
Dickson in a statement signed by the State Commissioner of Information, Deacon Markson Fefegha directed that all state flags in public buildings and places across the State be flown at half mast for three days, beginning from Tuesday, 19th of November 2013.
Also, Chairman, Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Wisdom Nemi Adoki said the loss was unquantifiable to Okrika and the entire Ijaw nation.
“It is at terrible loss to us as a people. We feel terribly sad that such a national figure who had served the country meritoriously would die in such circumstances”.
Chief Adoki said that the late INC President who was also a former Chairman of Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs was able to unite the different factions of the Chiefs in Okrika as well as ensure stability in the Ijaw National Congress (INC), noting that Senator Tari Sekibo would be missed greatly not just by the Ijaws in Rivers State, but the entire Nigerian nation.

Chris Oluoh

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

13 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

14 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

14 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.