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As Rivers Pays Last Respect To Late Attorney-General …Azinge Condemns Dictatorship At Memorial Lecture
The remains of Rivers State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, late Sir Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma(SAN) would be buried tomorrow at Ogbu-nu-Abali in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.
Late Aguma died after a brief illness in a London hospital.
According to a funeral programme made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, activities for the final interment of the late commissioner started last Wednesday, with a public lecture titled, “The Rule of Law and Leadership in Nigeria’s Democracy, The Role of Attorney General”.
This was followed by Night of Tributes at Rex Lawson Cultural Centre, Bonny Street in Port Harcourt yesterday, while service of songs holds, today, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu by Garrison, Port Harcourt.
The programme signed by Chairman of the Burial Committee, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara further said that there would be a valedictory session at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, tomorrow, between 8.00am and 8.45am, to be followed by a Valedictory Court session at the state High Court Complex, Port Harcourt from 9.00am to 10.00 am.
According to the programme, Aguma’s body would lie in state at his family home, Orogbum, Ogbun-nu-Abali, 10.15am to 11.30am, funeral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Diobu by 12.00noon to be followed by interment at the family home, Orogbum, Port Harcourt while reception would take place at Ahia Makara, Orogbum, Ogbun-nu-Abali, Port Harcourt.
The programme further said that a thanksgiving service would hold on Sunday at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu by Garrison, Port Harcourt.
The late Attorney General, who was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was born on April 21, 1961.
He was the first son of Sir Emmanuel W. Aguma.
He was educated at Santa Maria Primary School and St. Paul’s Primary School, Diobu, Comprehensive Secondary School, Port Harcourt and County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche.
He was later admitted into Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, and later Aldgate’s College in Oxford, London for his London GCE in Advanced Level.
For his university education, the late Attorney-General went to the University of Warwick between 1981 and 1984, and the University of Sheffield from 1984 to 1987 where he obtained BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) with 2nd Class Upper Division, respectively, before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School between 1987 and 1988.
Meanwhile, the former Director General of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof Epiphany Azinge has declared that the use of forces of coercion to undermine the democratic preference of voters was the worst crime against the rule of law.
Speaking during a public lecture in honour of the late Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Sir Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), last Wednesday, Azinge regretted that the illegal use of security agencies to undermine the constitutional governance.
The public lecture titled: “The Rule of Law and Leadership in Nigeria’s Democracy: The Role of the Attorney General” had in attendance Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Austin Opara, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, traditional rulers and leaders of the state.
Azinge said: “Another brazen affront to the concept of the rule of law is the ignoble role of law enforcement agencies to wit, police, state security services, the armed forces in the affairs of bastardization of democratic norms and principles.
“Law enforcement agencies continue to be used as veritable tools for perpetration of election rigging in our polity. It is a notorious fact that has been on since independence. However, since 1999, it has now assumed a disturbing dimension. To use forces of coercion to undermine the wishes of the electorate in an election is simply the highest form of debasement of the concept of rule of law”.
He said that good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially to protect the rights of all group of persons.
He said: “The burden of good governance tied to rule of law is to a large extent on the office of the attorneys general of both the federation and the states.”
The legal luminary said that the Attorney General has the responsibility of advising the government to ensure that the rule of law was maintained and government actions are constitutional and valid in law.
He said that the late Attorney-General of Rivers State was one of the finest chief law officers and legal minds of Rivers State.
He said: “In Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, KSC, SAN, Rivers State Government was privileged to have one of the finest legal minds as chief law officer of the state. His patrician carriage, elevated thought process and commanding presence made him the toast of his peers and colleagues”.
Azinge added that the late Aguma was unapologetically an apostle of the concept of the rule of law, saying that Rivers State benefited from his legal advice.
“Emmanuel Aguma has played his part and now belongs to the pantheon of great legal icons and his legacy will live forever. He will be remembered as that Attorney-General who will dust his books and head to the court to defend the position of the government he served”.
Chairman of the occasion, Emma Ukala (SAN) said that the organisation of the Public Lecture in honour of the late Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Rivers State by the state government lays credence to the very special place that he occupies in the hearts of the governor and people of the state.
He said though Aguma was young, he carved out a place for himself in the history.
“We are here to immortalise the memory of Aguma. He had a brave sense of Justice. He was very courageous. But he knew decent boundaries defined by law. He worked for the survival of democratic institutions, especially the Justice”, he said.
Head of Service of Rivers State, Rufus Godwins said the late Attorney-General of Rivers State and Wike shared a passion for the promotion of the rule of law.
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RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans
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
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
