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Remain Firm, Rivers Communities Tell Amaechi

Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Sir Tony Okocha, (left) sipping a cup of water from a water project commissioned by him and constructed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari in Okrika recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
In recognition of his people-oriented projects in the past seven years of his administration, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been honoured by the people of Emohua Kingdom with a chieftaincy title of “Ugwugwu of Emohua” (the Pride of Emohua).
The governor also received accolades from the people at Rumuchie in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, for his uncommon achievements in infrastructure and manpower development, among others.
In an address presented by Chief Ozaze Obillor and signed by the Paramount Ruler of Emohua, His Royal Majesty, Eze Oha Vincent Benson Okor, at Rumuchie, Emohua at the weekend, the eight communities of Emohua clan comprising, Rumuchie, Mgbu-Itanwo, Odohua, Rumuakunde, Elibrada, Mgbu-Etor, Isiodu and Rumu-Ohia stated that, “Because of the love and regard you have for Emohua, you are here today to visit Emohua. His Excellency, we were in Government House to appreciate you and to congratulate you in being who you are: bold, courageous, firm, decisive and focused on any agenda you are convinced about. You have shown most admirably the characteristic trait of a true son of Emohua, and truly, we are adopting you as a true son of Emohua. Thus, after your native home Ubima, take Emohua as your second home.
“The people of Emohua adore you and appreciate your administration for the landmark achievements brought to Rivers State. The many model schools, the modern road networks, the hospitals, the Greater Port Harcourt City Project shall all speak your name long after you would have left the scene. In all these projects, you remembered Emohua, we celebrate you, we also appreciate you, we pledge our total support and loyalty to your government, Emohua is with you, Emohua is for you,” the people said.
They also appealed to the governor to resurface the 3km-Rumuakunde/Rumuchie road and the Elibrada-Oduoha road, among others.
Responding, Governor Chibuike Amaechi thanked the people for their support, and assured them of the reconstruction of the Rumuakunde/Rumuchie road soon.
Amaechi also used the occasion to pronounce the elevation of the stool of Eze Vincent Benson Okor from third class to first class.
Amaechi said: “In my struggle to become relevant in life and in politics, I have always served my people. If you check in Emohua Local Government Area, there is only one village that is yet to have road. The only road that we have not done because we owe the contractor is Rumuodogo road. The one that is a promise is the 3km Rumuakunde/Rumuchie road. I made that promise, and I will redeem it before election. I will drive on that road before election time because I will come back here to ask for your vote”, he said.
“The next thing I will tell you is that I promised Emohua people that I will recognize His Highness. By Monday, I will make sure that he gets his letter of recognition as a first class chief, and he will move from His Highness to His Majesty”.
“I know for sure that the presence of APC here has dwarfed the presence of PDP. TAN (PDP campaigners) held their rally at Elekahia Stadium, a 16,000-capacity stadium. We shall hold our APC rally at the new 40,000-capacity stadium at Greater Port Harcourt City. I thank you for the honour, and thank you for remaining steadfast in APC. One assurance I will give you is that I will not disappoint you,” the governor told them.
Amaechi explained that, “In the history of Ikwerre, this is about the first time we are important in national politics. We will not sell it for the position of the governor. This is the time when we will be here in Port Harcourt; they will call us on the phone to attend meetings in Abuja. We will not sell it because of one young boy, who for reasons of greed can even sell his parents. We cannot sell the rights of Ikwerre people”.
In his appreciation speech, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua, His Royal Majesty, Eze Oha Vincent Benson Okor expressed gratitude to the governor for his elevation.
According to him, “In the past, Ikwerre sons tried to become governor but to no avail, but Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi tried and got it by the grace of God. So, we are happy. His Excellency, the eight villages of Emohua are complete here in their numbers. We will continue to support your administration.
Earlier, member representing Ikwerre/Emohua Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Andrew Uchendu, acknowledged Governor Amaechi for showing love by identifying with the people.
Unchendu noted that the governor’s visit was a great honour to Emohua Kingdom, adding, “Your Excellency, personally, I have been conferred with an eternal honour by you. If there is one achievement I will count as being priceless, highly valuable, it is your visit to this kingdom today. Emohua is a collection of eight villages under the able leadership of the Paramount Ruler, Eze Vincent Benson Okor. We have been living in peace all these years; there is no village that is not here today. Even the Oha’s are all here.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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