News

Insurgency: UN,IPCR Preach Peace

Published

9 years ago

September 16, 2016

The United Nations and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), yesterday, in Abuja, urged aggrieved persons and groups, particularly Boko Haram and militants in the country to ceasefire, and allow peace to reign.
Speaking at a news conference on the commemoration of the forthcoming 2016 International Day of Peace, Director-General of IPCR, Prof. Oshita Oshita, said IPCR had embarked on several peace-building interventions.
The director-general explained that the day would provide all aggrieved persons and groups with another opportunity to embrace dialogue in the interest of the country and humanity.
According to him, the day also required all aggrieved persons and groups to ceasefire for at least 24 hours on the day as a respect for humanity.
“In the context of Nigeria, the 2016 International Day of Peace requires all aggrieved persons, groups and conflicts actors ceasefire for, at least, 24 hours and allow peace to prevail.
“We demand all parties involved in crisis in the country, to ceasefire as no crisis can be resolved by violence; it still has to come to a roundtable for meaningful resolution.
“We want to draw the attention of all conflict actors on the need to come to our senses to bring our country to the path of dialogue and development,” he said.
He appealed to state governments to ensure the commemoration of the day in their respective states, to underscore the importance of entrenching the consciousness of peace in the public and private conduct.
Oshita commended the Federal Government for given Nigeria an opportunity to breathe an air of peace through the degrading of Boko Haram.
He enjoined all Nigerians to join hands with the federal government to promote peaceful coexistence in order to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Take a decision to be a peaceful person today and help to underscore the significance of the ‘change begins with me’ philosophy of the Federal Government.
“With peace, we can all have an economy and an investors-friendly country to help create jobs for our youth,” he said.
In his remarks, Peace and Development Adviser of UN Development Programme (UNDP), Dr Zebulun Takwa, said the whole world look up to Nigeria to come out of current security challenge.
“The return of polio in North-East Nigeria has been facilitated by the Boko Haram crisis, and we are now spending hundreds of millions of naira to try to combat it.
“If ministries, departments and agencies had been spending just five per cent of their budgets in supporting peace-building, we would have re-oriented the minds of the citizens.
“Peace should not be a slogan for rhetoric, but we must all invest in it and it involves money,” he said.
The Deputy Programme Manager, UN Women, Mr Peter Mancha, stressed on the need to mainstream peace-building in development agenda, saying that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals could not be achieved without peace.
He pledged that the UN Women would continue to work in Nigeria in the area of women, peace and security in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The theme for the 2016 Day is: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”.
The day is commemorated every September 21 in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution 55/282 of September 2002.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.