Featured

APC Govt Can’t Secure Nigerians -ASUU …As PDP Tells Buhari To Stop Whining, Accept Failure …Adebanjo Attacks President Over Abacha Defence

Published

7 years ago

May 25, 2018

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday, described as a sign of irresponsibility, the failure of the Federal Government to tame the spate of killings across the country.
The union maintained that “a government that allows her people to be murdered daily is totally irresponsible” and has failed to fulfil the social contract of protecting lives and properties.
In an interview with journalists after the union’s congress, yesterday, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole demanded adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Omole also called for the de-politicisation of security by heads of security agencies, saying loyalty must be to Nigeria and not to Aso Rock residents.
He noted that Nigerians, who were already battling with poor economic conditions, were now afraid that their lives could be terminated anyhow, adding that the Buhari-led Federal Government had been issuing ineffective condemnation speeches.
According to him, “it is a sign of irresponsibility for the government to fold its arms, while people are being killed daily, only to approve N10billion for rebuilding affected communities. Serious government would have prevented destruction from happening but the government allowed the carnage to happen”.
Omole noted that while land transportation was hellish for Nigerians, it was now more deadly to travel since criminals had positioned themselves on major roads kidnapping, raping, dispossessing and killing people at will.
He said food production was now threatened because communities affected were farming communities, while those displayed were farmers.
“If Nigerians are already denied quality health facilities, quality education, quality social services, they must not be denied right to life.
“This is the worst form of treating the governed by a government which promised hope to the masses but which the rich have continued to benefit from.
“It is sad that one state claimed to have lost about 500 persons to herdsmen terrorism and nobody has been prosecuted for this.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to end his blame game and use of hate language against past leaders as cover for his poor performance, the economic hardship and the escalated insecurity his administration has caused Nigerians despite ample resources at their disposal.
In a statement, yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said: “It is sad that President Buhari does not have a single development project initiated and implemented by his administration in any part of the country in the last three years.
“He has also failed to fulfil the littlest of his 2015 campaign promises through which Nigerians were deceived to vote him into office.
“Now that he has failed, one wonders what other false promises the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) will anchor their 2019 campaign and elections.
“It is tragic that instead of being remorseful, the Buhari Presidency finds it convenient to engage in endless blame game, shameful attempts to appropriate PDP projects and programmes, as well as dishing out of false performance indices ahead of its three years anniversary on May 29.
“Worst still, President Buhari finds solace in commissioning projects executed by other leaders, like his humiliating commissioning of a regular bus station constructed by the Lagos State Government and a borehole in Jigawa State, which show crass failure of governance.
“It is embarrassing that whenever our President visits other world leaders, he would have nothing to present but mere rhetoric from a prepared speech, while other leaders proudly reel out their achievements.
“Nigerians recalled that last March, our nation was embarrassed when the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, cheerfully reeled out his achievements under one year in office, including his farming for job initiative, the senior high school free education, the one district-one factory projects, one village-one dam project among others, only for President Buhari to present an empty score card when it was his turn to speak.
“Last month, Nigerians witnessed another international embarrassment when President Buhari could not present any development project before United States President Donald Trump, who made his nation proud by showcasing his achievements and the potentials of his country.
“Nigerians can recall President Buhari’s poor showing at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, where his only achievement was to further de-market our nation by declaring our youths as lazy and lovers of freebies.
“President Buhari and his handlers must know that Nigerians are tired of their ineptitude and blame game. The beauty of democracy is that it affords the citizens the inalienable right to remove any government that does not effectively govern and this is the inevitable end of the APC, come 2019.”
Also, a chieftain of the apex Yoruba social-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for speaking good of the late military dictator, Gen Sani Abacha.
Adebanjo said Buhari spoke well of Abacha because he was his appointee and benefited from the deceased’s dictatorial regime.
The President had, last Tuesday said, “I don’t care the opinion you have about Abacha, but I agreed to work with him, and we constructed roads from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Benin to Onitsha, and so on.”
But Adebanjo, who spoke with newsmen, said the President had lost his credibility and should not be taken seriously.
He said, “Buhari worked under Abacha, and why are you surprised about his support for Abacha?
“Here is a President who has lost his credibility and some Nigerians are still taking him seriously.
“I have always spoken about the anti-democratic ideals of Buhari but his supporters at that time told me that Buhari had changed to a democrat?

Featured

PANDEF Hails Tinubu For Lifting Emergency Rule In Rivers

Published

2 days ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has hailed the lifting of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

In a statement signed by Board members and National Executive Committee members, yesterday, PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu for rectifying what they described as an anomaly.

The statement was co-signed by Co-Chairmen, PANDEF Board of Trustees, Alfred Diette-Spiff and Obong Victor Attah, National Chairman Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, and National Secretary, Beks Dagogo-Jack.

Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on the 18th of March, 2025, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months in the first instance.

In place of the governor, the President appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as Sole Administrator.

However, Tinubu announced the suspension of the Emergency Rule on Wednesday, stating, “It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State shall end with effect from midnight today (Wednesday).”

The Forum commended Fubara’s unwavering perseverance and “faith in the divine will of Almighty God,” while also commending the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, the Speaker, and members of the House of Assembly, who were equally affected by the suspension.

“The Board and National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, the apex socio-political organisation representing the South-South geopolitical zone, joins millions of Nigerians in welcoming the lifting of the state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

“While PANDEF had expressed strong reservations regarding the erstwhile emergency rule, we commend His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for taking this bold step to rectify the anomaly.

“We welcome Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to his elected office and salute his unwavering perseverance and faith in the divine will of Almighty God. We extend similar commendations to the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Oduah, the Speaker, and members of the House of Assembly, who were equally affected by the suspension,” the statement read.

Addressing Rivers people, the forum declared, “Light has returned to the state and a new glorious dawn has come. A moment in which the bitter pains of the past months will inspire all to rededicate themselves to true mutual forbearance, new alignments and forward movement.”

They urged political leaders and citizens to put the past behind them and work towards the collective good of the State, while pledging to support Rivers’ developmental trajectory under Fubara.

“All hearts and hands must therefore be joined together to put the past behind us and work towards the collective good of the state.

“We look forward to the State’s return to normalcy and the resumption of its developmental trajectory under the leadership of Governor Fubara and his team. PANDEF reiterates its commitment to supporting the government and people of Rivers State in their pursuit of progress and development,” the statement added.

Featured

RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.

Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.

He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”

The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.

Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.

He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.

“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.

“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.

The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.

He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.

The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“

“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.

She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,

expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.

“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”

He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.

The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.

The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State

Featured

Rivers LG Poll: APC Wins 20 chairmanship seats, PDP Clears Three

Published

3 weeks ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.

According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.

APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.

The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.

Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.

Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.

Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.

Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.

The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.

Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas

Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.

National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.

John Bibor & King Onunwor