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Rivers Dep Gov Defects To APC …Wife, Others Register …Party Extends Registration To Feb 12
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is poised to take over the leadership of the country and correct the wrongs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Engr. Ikuru said this last Saturday when he, alongside his wife, Dr Mina Ikuru, Interim State Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, amongst others, formally registered for the APC at Ikuru Town in Ward 5, Andoni Local Government Area of the state.
He stated that “I am fully registered. In case you are still in doubt. For those who are still in doubt as to where I stand, I have always said it that I will stand with my boss, Governor Amaechi, where he goes. I have now registered for the APC.
The deputy governor dismissed insinuations that the exercise was marred by violence and irregularities, urging everyone to exercise their right to associate and register with the party, calling on the opposition to desist from harassing and intimidating would-be members of the APC.
“It’s a matter of free choice. Some people will choose to be in APC, some may choose to be in some other parties and every Nigerian above the age of 18 should be able to have a free choice of which party to belong, where to be and who to vote for. No person has the right to stop anyone”, he said.
Engr. Ikuru, who performed the registration exercise in the presence of the state interim APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, the Chairman and Secretary, APC Registration Committee, Rivers State, Engr. Ebeitei Francis and Hon Josef Omorotionmwan, Vice Chairman, Andoni LGA, Hon Sampson Egop and the APC Secretary in the LGA, Hon Sylvanus Kingston said he was elated to be a full member of APC.
Speaking, Interim State Chairman of the APC, Chief Ikanya, congratulated the deputy Governor and his wife for formally registering for the APC, berating the PDP for allegedly sponsoring the mayhem that had disrupted the registration process in Degema, Obio/Akpor, Akuku-Toru, and some units in PHALGA, Etche, and Ogu/Bolo.
Also speaking, Chairman of the state APC Registration Committee, Engr. Ebeitei Francis, said the ongoing registration exercise signifies a change in Nigeria, a change in Rivers State and a change also in Africa”, adding that, “the APC is the only party that can take Nigeria from this level that we are to the Promised Land”.
The Vice Chairman, Andoni LGA, Hon. Sampson Egop, attributed the success recorded in Andoni to the people’s collective resolve to queue behind their illustrious sons like the deputy governor, the APC interim state chairman, the council Chairman, Mr. Orom Nte Ereforokuma, and the councilors.
He stressed that “these are illustrious sons of Andoni; people are aware of their works, there is no question of deceit here. So, the people are queuing behind them because they know them, they have been there for them over the years on the other side. Now that they have crossed over, they know that they are taking them to the Promised Land, that is why you are seeing the mass movement in Andoni”.
The deputy governor, accompanied by his wife, Mina, Chief Ikanya, Engr. Francis, Secretary of the party and former Chairman of Andoni LGA, Mr. Kingston Sylvanus, and other party chieftains, later inspected the registration units across Ward 5 and Ebukuma in Ward 4, Andoni LGA, where he described the exercise as “satisfactory”.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday in Lagos said it had extended the period for its ongoing nationwide membership registration till February 12.
The membership registration exercise, which began on Wednesday, was initially scheduled to end today.
In a statement signed by the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the extension was to accommodate many Nigerians who had turned out to register but could not do so.
“We have apparently underestimated the number of those who are eager and willing to participate actively in the change process by joining the APC.
“Even with one day to go in the original registration schedule, we have exceeded the number of members we set out to register.
“Many more have reached out to us to give them the opportunity to join the APC, hence our decision to extend the registration,” Mohammed said in the statement.
The party said it needed to ensure that the people who wanted to register as members were allowed to do so.
It urged all interested citizens who had not registered to utilise the opportunity offered by the extension to do so.
Member, House of Representatives, Hon Dakuku Peterside (sitting), registering as APC member at Unit 5, Ward 3, Opobo Town, last Friday.
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
