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Rivers Assembly Passes Chieftaincy Bill …Directs Revenue Board Chairman To Re-Appear    

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11 years ago

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The Rivers State House
of Assembly has passed the State Chieftiancy and Council of Chiefs  Bill 2014  even as the lawmakers asked the Chairman of the state Internal Revenue Board to reappear before the House with documents that show payment of taxes to the state.
The lawmakers had last Wednesday deferred the debate to yesterday after a heated argument  over the bill and  payment of salaries of traditional rulers occupying ethnic stools.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Chidi Lloyd noted that what the committee did  was a technical work and said the law as it was now had a lot of mistakes in the classification of chieftaincy stools.
Lloyd said there were stools that existed in local government areas other than where they were domiciled such as Nye we eli Obuduga, which he said appeared under Ikwerre Local Government Area, stressing that what they did as a committee was to ensure that they put all the chieftaincy stools in proper perspective as it is contained in the first schedule of the committee report.
According to him,’’ we also look at some certain thorny areas in the law which also include the ouster of the power of the court from hearing any chieftaincy matter, saying, it was not important to say that no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain chieftaincy matters.
“We identified certain stools in Rivers State  whose jurisdiction extends beyond  local government of origin.
The Amanayabo of Kalabari is the Amanayabo of all Kalabari people both at home and  in the diaspora as the fragmentation of local governments did not elude him not to be allowed to acquire just liabilities that come from those areas where his jurisdiction extends to and recommended that he should enjoy access that comes from those local governments he superintends over.
He warned that they are not making a law targeting an individual, adding that  no occupant of any stool will remain there forever as he urged his colleagues to look at the report dispassionately without bias
The committee recommended that  before a Governor can withdraw certificate of recognition from any First Class Chief or any other Chief, the chief must have been investigated, and given a fair hearing of the case.
Hon Gift Wokacha who represents Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Constituency 1 commended the committee for a work well done but said the issue present was an issue of law and any law that is made has to stand the test of time.          He said there are issues that must be look in to objectively and critically evaluate them and see whether they are in order..
He said the recommendation that an ethnic stool should receive payments from other local government where his jurisdictions extend to is not feasible

But, In his contribution, Hon Onari Brown, representing Akuku Toru 1 also kicked against the sharing formula and said he was not against the ethnic stool receiving stipends from other Local government where he superdents but the percentage should be lesser that what he gets from his area where he domiciles.
Others who made their contributions includes Hon Sam Eligwe, Hon Ibiso Nwuche, and Hon. Lucky Odili who did not share the same views.
Based on the arguments, the Speaker, Rt.Hon Otelemaba Dan Amaechree divided the house and it was resolved that the bill be passed in to law.

Meanwhile, The Speaker however directed the Clark to inform the executive that the bill has been passed in to law.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed the Chairman of  the state Internal Revenue Board, Mrs Onene Osila Obele –Oshoko has been dircted to re appear before the state House of Assembly in the legislative day.

The speake, Rt.Hon Otelemaba Dan-Amaechree directed that Mrs Oshoko to re appear with documents relating to internal revenue generation of the state.

The directive came following the inability of the Chairman of the Internal Revenue Board failure to respond promptly to questions posed to her by the lawmakers

Mrs Obele-Oshoko was directed to appear before the House following the dwindling internal revenue of the state from the average of about  #17billion to #13billion monthly.Those summon along side the Chairman of the Internal Revenue service includes, the commissioner of Finace, Dr Chambelian Peterside, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue Generation, Chief Nwankwo Nwankwo.

The House leader, Hon Chidi Lloyd informed the invitees that the invitation was born out of a motion from the deputy leader who was worried about the dwindling revenue of the state, noted that it was unfortunate that the board Chairman came without preparation

Lloyd disclosed that for the past three years artisants,shop owners have not paid tax to the state government, stating that it has cost the state government very much

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Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

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2 days ago

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July 18, 2025

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Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.

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2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC

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2 days ago

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July 18, 2025

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A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level  had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity.  In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations 

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2 days ago

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July 18, 2025

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The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, has called for a good working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of the State for development to thrive at the grassroots level.
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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