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Demise Of A Legend: Emmanuel C Aguma (SAN)
Last Friday, the Rivers State Government broke the sad news of the death of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN.
In an emotion-laden statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, the state government said, “It is with very deep pain but gratitude to the Almighty God that the Rivers State Government wishes to announce the demise of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, today, Friday 10th August, 2018 in a London hospital.
Until his death, Emmanuel Chiwenwo Aguma, SAN served the State with amazing sense of responsibility, commitment, passion, competence and courage. At all times, even in his sick bed, his exemplary zeal to serve Rivers State never waned.
Consequently, the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, directed that flags fly at half-mast for two days, beginning from last Saturday as a mark of honour to mourn the departed legend.
“Needless to say that Rivers State and indeed the nation will miss his versatility and invaluable contributions to the development of our state and Nigeria, this loss is monumental but we urge all people of goodwill to remember his wife, children, mother and the entire Late Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma’s family of Port Harcourt as well as the State in prayers”, the government said.
Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, was a Rivers State lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politician.
He was, until his demise, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.
Between 2000 and 2002, Aguma worked as Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, and also chaired the Bar from 2006 to 2008.
On 10 July, 2015, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on him alongside 20 others, and were sworn in on 21 September, 2015.
Lamenting the death of the legal luminary, Chief Nyesom Wike stated that the late Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) gave his best to the state, serving it with unparalleled commitment and loyalty.
Speaking during a condolence visit by the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, Wike said: “Aguma believed in everything we are doing in the state. He gave his all. He gave his best.
“I could call on him at anytime. He delivered on his assignments without excuses”.
Wike said that the late Attorney General showed intelligence, commitment and loyalty in his service to the state.
“His passage is most unfortunate. God gives and God takes. He was one of the closest to me on the cabinet. He died at a most critical time.
“You can have people who are intelligent, but are they loyal and committed? He had a combination of all. It is difficult to find a replacement for him. This is a loss for the cabinet and the entire state”, he said.
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja said that the traditional rulers received the news of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State with shock.
He said that his death is a loss of monumental proportions.
Jaja said after visiting the family, the traditional rulers resolved to visit the Rivers State Governor.
Other prominent indigenes of the state have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
In her condolence message, the House of Representatives member for Abua-Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Hon. Betty Apiafi described the demise of the late Attorney General as “a difficult goodbye”, noting that God knows why it happened.
Another House of Representatives member representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Hon. Jerome Eke, said the news of the death of the late Attorney General, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma was unbelievable.
“He was one of my major friends and brothers. I can’t believe this story”, he wrote.
The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Marshall Stanley Uwom said he was perplexed, pained and in deep grief because of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State.
“I am perplexed, pained and in deep grief. Your eloquent banters will continually play in my head. In all things, we shall give glory to God because you stood as a colossus and bestrode the legal landscape like a giant you truly are”, Uwom wrote.
In his condolence message , the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule noted with shock the death of the late Attorney General.
“It is really shocking, how can one believe that this kind of thing would be happening now? May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he stated.
Also, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gobo Bob Manuel stated that with the death of late Emmanuel Aguma, the Lord has called him for higher duties.
However, following the sad passage of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), flags at the Government House, Port Harcourt and other government offices flew at half-mast last Saturday.
On Friday, Wike, who received the news of the death of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) with shock and sadness, led some leaders of the state and members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the Aguma Family House in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt.
After commiserating with the Aguma family, Wike ordered that flags fly at half-mast for two days.
A condolence register has been opened in honour of the late Attorney General of Rivers State at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Prominent leaders of Rivers State and members of the State Executive Council have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said that the sudden death of the Attorney General of Rivers State is a loss to humanity.
He wrote: “Yet again, the human landscape has been desecrated and further reduced by the sudden and unplanned departure of the Rivers State Attorney-General.
You will forever be remembered.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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