News

PDP Flays Call For Emergency Rule In Rivers

Published

10 years ago

March 30, 2016

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has dismissed calls by some persons in the state and a sections of the country for a state of emergency in Rivers State following pockets of violence and killings in some parts of the state in the last couple of months.
The party said in a statement, signed by the Special Adviser to the PDP Chairman on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, yesterday, that “All those calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State are mischievous idlers who have been disengaged from the looting of the state resources by Governor Nyesom Wike’s New Rivers Vision.”
The PDP said that, “Having seen it is no longer business as usual, the only option left for them is to foment trouble in and around the state to discredit the incumbent administration for frustrating them from further looting of state resources.”
The statement quoted the state party Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, as this while reacting to what he described as the lamentation of criminals and looters of the state resources who have lost out in the new dispensation in Rivers State.
Berating such callers and proponents of emergency rule in the state, Obuah accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of concocting the mischief in order to rubbish the startling achievements of the Wike-led administration in the state.
According to him, “this is the real motive of the APC for causing crises in parts of the state and having failed in this criminal bid, has resorted to raising aimless and hopeless alarm over non-existent incidences of violence except the ones instigated by them to justify their mischievous call.”
Also describing the move by the frustrated APC as a lost battle, the state PDP boss said Rivers State was generally peaceful, adding that the economy was impressively picking up as a result of the focused leadership of the Wike administration.
Obuah called on “one Prince Odike, who claimed to be the state deputy chairman of the APC, to find a meaningful engagement other than lending himself as a willing tool for the new satanic device of the APC after Mr. Chris Finebone may have been dumped for ineptitude and his crass propaganda.
The PDP, therefore, appealed “to all Rivers people, Nigerians as a whole as well as the international community to continue to discountenance the APC and whatever they stand for, having brought shame and untold hardship on the people.”
It added that the Rivers State Government was people-oriented and will continue to ensure that there was utmost peace in and across the state to bring about meaningful development to the people.
The PDP noted that “Mr Odike said the mind of the APC and believes there cannot be peace in the state except a state of emergency is declared, which means that the APC was clearly behind the pockets of crises in parts of the state to actualize their plot.
“This has also vindicated the PDP, which has been drumming it loud and clear that the APC is behind the skirmishes in the state before and during the March 19, National and State Assembly rerun elections,” the party said.
It emphasised that “the call for a state of emergency is, therefore, unnecessary, and can only make sense in the minds of anarchists like the APC and its members.”

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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.