News

Rivers PDP Crisis Deepens As Another Faction Emerges

Published

12 years ago

July 11, 2014

Senate President David Mark (right) speaking at the breaking of Ramadan fast by Senators at his residence in Abuja last Wednesday Night. With him are Sen.Ganiyu Solomon (left), and Leader of Senate, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba.

The crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday deepened following the emergence of a factional camp, which has secured an office in the state capital.
The Tide gathered that the new faction of PDP will soon commence activities, with the inauguration of its local government party chairmen ahead of the party primaries.
The new development is a follow up to the suspension of some founding members of the party who were rumoured to be nursing the ambition to contest the governorship ticket in the forthcoming primary of the party.
The Tide learnt that two members of the party, former transport commissioner in Rivers State, Hon Elemchukwu Obowu and former administrative officer of PDP in the state, Chief Lolo Ibieneye were suspended two months ago by the Brother Felix Obuah-led leadership of the PDP due to their position on zoning of governorship in the state.
The duo had kicked against an Ikwerre candidate in the next primary of the party, alleging that the party has been hijacked by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, and his stooges.
Since their suspension, things have not been normal in the party in the state.
Our investigation shows that both Obowu and Ibieneye have demanded for an Ijaw or Riverine candidate after the present tenure of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who they said emerged as an upland governor.
But in reaction to this, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday said that the Obuah-led leadership is still in charge, describing the move to factionalise the party as a criminal and crude attempt to blackmail the party.
The state Chairman of the PDP, Bro Felix Obuah, who stated this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, yesterday, said such plot cannot succeed because the PDP is democratically intact and does not have any internal squabbles.
Obuah, in the statement, warned against any act aimed at causing crisis in the state, stressing that both High Court and Appeal Court judgements recognizing him as the only constitutionally elected PDP chairman in the state still subsist.
The PDP state chairman stressed that the only State Secretariat of the party still remains No 23, Aba Road, Port Harcourt, warning that any person or group of persons parading as PDP state executive members except the one he superintends will be visited with the full wrath of the law.
He urged security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities by nipping any clandestine act aimed at plunging the party and the state into another round of crisis in the bud to stave a political storm in the state.
“The PDP as a law abiding party will not succumb to blackmail and will stop at nothing to suspend members working against the interest of the party”, he said, warning “those behind the plot to desist forthwith’’.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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.