News
Peterside Berates Observer Group For Thumbing Up Rivers Polls
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in River State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has berated the President of a South Africa-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Pan African Women Observer Group, Mrs. Eno Udensi, for claiming that the April 11 elections in Rivers State were free and fair.
Peterside’s Greater Together Campaign Organisation (GTCO), in a statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt, dismissed Mrs. Udensi’s claims, which she made on Africa Independent Television (AIT), as an afterthought from a biased observer.
GTCO advised Mrs. Udensi, who in the same television programme said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deserved commendation for “job well done” to learn to speak the truth at all times, at least, not to mislead the younger generation.
“We want to advise Mrs. Udensi, who is a known apologist of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, that truth at all times, is costlier than cash,” GTCO said.
It dismissed Mrs. Udensi’s canvassed on behalf of the Pan African Women Observer Group, which monitored the elections in Rivers State, as warped, and accused her of selling her value for a pot of porridge.
While expressing the hope Mrs. Udensi’s views were personal and not that of the observer group she led, the campaign outfit noted that even at that, her position was strange and an aberration when compared with other reports turned in by credible observer groups, including teams from United States and the European Union.
According to the statement, “It was possible Mrs. Udensi was quarantined by her sponsors in an insulated five-star hotel room, sipping leisurely cups of coffee, when the guns were booming in Akuku Toru and Asari Toru local government areas.
“It was possible her sponsors sedated her with a lullaby that lured her to sleep on a water bed when armed militia groups sponsored by PDP went on killing spree in Tai, Etche, Okrika, Port Harcourt City.
“She also must have been in that deep sleep when PDP thugs attacked virtually every Poling Unit in Rivers State and snatched ballot boxes and ballot papers, thumb-printed in private homes, burnt the RAC in Buguma and committed other electoral malfeasances against Rivers people.
“Had Mrs. Udensi done the job she came to Rivers State last April 11, she would have seen the travesty, the day-robbery and the war unleashed on Rivers people by PDP in criminal collaboration with INEC and security agencies.”
GTCO reiterated its earlier rejection of all that took place in Rivers State on April 11.
“We insist that what transpired in Rivers State on April 11 was no election in the true meaning of the word. Mrs. Udensi is an enemy of Rivers’ future and wellbeing.
“By her views, she has revealed her connivance in the questionable conduct of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Gesila Khan, in the conduct of the elections.
“It is unfortunate that people like Mrs. Udensi saw no evil in INEC’s betrayal. Until justice was done, Rivers people will continue to demand same and condemn likes of Mrs. Udensi,” the statement said.
News
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
Worried over the high rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr Peter Mbah, has called for closer synergy and cooperation among security agencies to check the ugly trend and ensure safety on all the roads within the country.
Governor Mbah, made the call in an address at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command and Staff College, Udi near Enugu.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Aka Eze Aka, governor Mbah noted that closer security and intelligence sharing on incidents on roads within the country by various security formations and agencies both military and para-military would lead to greater security and safety of lives and property on roads.
He stated that the state government had keyed into the FRSC vision of reduction in road crashes and fatalities, adding that it had equipped the state traffic officers with the same set targets.
“As an administration, we are making all efforts to fix and improve on all roads and road infrastructure within the state; while we are calling on the Federal Government to do the same.
“Our partnership with the FRSC for training and retraining of our road traffic officers will continue and be strengthened so that as a state it will also build its own capacity to deal with road traffic issues and challenges,” he said.
Governor Mbah, however, congratulated the graduating participants of the course, while commending the FRSC management for being in the forefront of raising the standard and quality of its staff.
According to him, “my administration will continue to partner with the FRSC and strengthen existing engagements of mutual benefits”.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said that the event was significant to the Corps as it marked its commitment to continuously improve its educational and operational standard and capacity.
Biu, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem, who is in-charge of FRSC Training, said that the Corps was building resiliency and increasing its service delivery capacity by equipping its officers with quality and international standard training.
By: Canice Amadi Enugu
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.
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