News
National Council Of State Vows To End Terrorism Before Dec
Members of the Council of State rose from an emergency meeting yesterday with a resolution to support President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the current spate of terrorism in parts of the country ends before December.
They also resolved to put an end to all discriminatory practices in states, including the registration and “deportation” of non-indigenes as well as different school fees for indigenes and non-indigenes in states-owned institutions, among others.
The council presided over by Jonathan has the Vice President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all former Heads of State, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria and all state governors as members.
All former Heads of State, except former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) attended the emergency meeting. President of the Senate, David Mark, was also absent.
Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
Aliyu said it was the resolution of council members that all hands must be on the deck to end insurgency in parts of the country.
He said they would work hard to ensure that the predictions by some foreigners that Nigeria would cease to exist as a united body beyond 2015 remained a wishful thinking.
The governor added that the council observed that leaders, particularly politicians remained the only threats to the country and democracy.
He said a collective decision was taken to stop the inflammatory statements always attributed to politicians.
He said, “More fundamental of the issues is the bucks stopping with the leadership. In fact, it came to the fore that if there is any threat to either the state or democracy probably the threat is coming from politicians and from leaders of the country.
“We must understand the boundaries of leadership and also the responsibilities that are involved. Leadership is not about beauty contest.
“In leadership, you must take difficult decisions and really go about implementing them.
“So, all the things came to the fore at the meeting and subsequently, each of us made it a deliberate resolution to all be bi-partisan or non-partisan to support the President to make sure that we get rid of this insurgency and indeed suggesting that before December.”
The governor said there was nothing religious or Islamic about the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
He said the important thing was for adherents of religions to respect the rights of adherents of other religions aside from theirs.
Akpabio said the council frowned at the registration of Nigerians in parts of the country and directed that the exercise be stopped forthwith.
He disclosed further that the council set up a six-member committee saddled with the responsibility of further identifying other discriminatory practices across the country.
The committee which has two months to submit its report, according to him, has governors of Niger, Sokoto, Enugu, Gombe, Akwa Ibom and Ondo States as members.
He said with the submission of the report, the council would then decide if the National Assembly would be approached to ensure that changes are made.
He said the ex-leaders proffered solutions to the security challenges in the country while council members commended security agencies.
He said, “Council viewed the report seriously that some citizens were being deported; deportation should be from one country to the other but where you have a Nigerian who is being returned to his state of origin to other states, then you know there is a problem.
“We felt that that was capable of disrupting the unity of the country, making Nigerians to become apprehensive and unsafe. ý
“Also, council frowned at the idea of even registering Nigerians in various parts of the country and felt this must be brought to an end immediately.
“And so we looked at all these issues and the role every leader should play from the local government level to the federal level. The role each one of us should play to ensure that we solidify the unity of this country.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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