Politics
Amaechi Commissions Ultra Modern Igbodoh Market
Early last week, Governor Chibuike Amaechi reaf
firmed the State Government’s desire to address the welfare of retirees in the state. He made the pledge through his deputy. Engr. Tele Ikuru, who spoke at a five day entrepreneurship development programme for retiring staffers of the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in Port Harcourt.
He observed that, “the need to be equipped before retiring from the service is necessary as part of the activities that prepare them for the unknown phase of life, stressing that, “the end of one phase of life is the beginning of another.”
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlin Peterside said that the training was aimed at preparing and providing information about retirement to the 51 pre-retirees and post retirees in the ministry.
Tuesday in Lagos, Rivers State Government won the 2014 Outstanding Government Health Care Programme Excellence Award beating Lagos, Kano and Ondo States to clinch the prize. The award is the highest honour for unparalleled execellence in the field of health care in Nigeria and was received on behalf of the state government by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.
While acknowledging advancements in the state health care delivery, Dr Parker assured that the award”, will encourage us to work harder towards providing a healthier and wealthier Rivers State”.
On Thursday, the state government took a swipe at the National Judicial Commission (NJC), describing the purported suspension of the state Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Peter Agumagu as illegal.
A statement issued by Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Commissioner for Information, also accused the commission of being biased and influenced by one of its members OCJ. Okocha (SAN) whose preferred candidate for the position of Rivers Chief Judge is Justice Daisy Okocha.
The statement further noted that NJC’s threat to dismiss a sitting Chief Judge of a state is against the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the established tenets of federalism.
On Friday shortly after arriving from Abuja, Governor Amaechi headed straight to Igbodoh Community, Etche Local Government Area, to commission the Ultra Mordern Igbodoh Market and Electrification project a boundary town between Etche and Imo State.
Addressing the mammoth crowd that had thronged to witness the ceremony, Governor Amaechi promised to give N150 million to the chairman to ensure power was provided.
He also urged the people to register with the APC and ensure they vote out the PDP in upcoming elections in order to reclaim their oil wells that has been ceded by the Federal Government.
On Saturday, Governor Amaechi attended the 26th Convocation of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where he promised more funding to the university. He lauded the developmental stride of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Fakae and hinted that soon construction at new site of the university will take off.
Politics
Kwankwaso Agrees To Rejoin APC, Gives Terms, Conditions
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Politics
I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
Politics
Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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