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Jonathan To Chair Wike’s Inaugural Lecture …My Victory, Function Of Grassroots Support -Wike …Continue To Support Wike, Banigo Tells Doctors
Former President of Nigeria Dr Goodluck Jonathan will on Monday May 27, 2019 at Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt,chair the 2nd Term Inaugural Lecture as well as the presentation of a book in honour of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at 10 am.
The lecture titled “The imperatives of Peace-building in Post Democratic Elections in Nigeria” will be delivered by an erudite scholar Prof Anya O. Anya.
The book titled Excellence in Governance and Creativity: Legal Essays in Honour of His Excellency Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, GSSRS, POS, Governor of Rivers State will be presented by the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
A statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt, by the Chairman of Media and Publicity Sub Committee, Emma Okah says all arrangements are on top gear to give the people of Rivers State an excellent inaugural lecture, book launch and other inaugural activities.
According to Okah, the inaugural activities will begin on Thursday 23rd May, 2019 with a variety night at Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, PH at 7pm.
A novelty football match between Team Rivers State and Ex Nigerian Internationals will hold on Friday 24th May, 2019 at Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt at 4pm.
There will be a Thanksgiving Service at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium (formerly Liberation Stadium), Port Harcourt at 9am on Saturday 25th May, 2019.
The swearing in ceremony of the Governor and his deputy will hold on Wednesday 29th May, 2019 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt at 10am while an inaugural banquet will follow later in the day at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt at 7pm.
According to the statement, the State Government and the organizing committee are ensuring that the inaugurationevents turn out impressive, God willing and urged Rivers people to participate.
Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike has stated that his 2019 electoral victory was a function of his vast grassroots support across the state.
Speaking when he received elected councillors from all the wards in the state at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike thanked the councillors and other grassroots leaders for their loyalty and support.
The governor was represented by his Chief of Staff, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke.
He said: “I want to thank you for your support during the last elections. We were confident because we had the support of the grassroots.
“I will work with you and cooperate with you as we move the state forward”.
He charged the councillors to work with their council chairmen as they strive to deliver development to their respective communities.
He said that councillors must desist from fighting their council chairmen as they were elected to serve their people.
“Cooperate and work in synergy with your council chairmen, with a view to serving your people. Service is a responsibility that has been entrusted on you by your people”, he said.
The governor urged the councillors to mobilise their constituents for the state Thanksgiving on Saturday and the Second Term Inauguration on May 29, 2019.
In his remarks, Leader of the Rivers State Councillors Forum, Collins Omunakwe of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, said that the councillors staged the victory walk to celebrate the victory of Wike and restate their loyalty to his administration.
Omunakwe said: “We put ourselves together to stage this victory march to celebrate the governor’s re-election because we believe in him.
“We are from the 23 local government areas, and we are publicly saying that all the elected councillors are solidly behind our governor”, he added.
Also, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has urged doctors to continue to work closely with the state government in the quest to improve the health status of the Rivers people.
Banigo stated this during a congratulatory visit to her by the Rivers State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at the Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
According to Banigo, doctors are bounded by ethics no matter their disciple, noting that they must continue to work by those ethics to enable Rivers people receive the best healthcare services.
She said the State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike, had provided the enabling environment to bring out the best in doctors, and urged them to ensure that health facilities were baby-friendly by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding in their facilities.
Banigo, who thanked the national leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association for conferring the prestigious NMA Healthcare Merit Award on Governor Nyesom Wike, commended the state branch for its support.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Rivers State Branch of the NMA, Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi said the re-election of the governor and his deputy was an eloquent expression of the desire of Rivers people and clear testimony of their satisfaction with the giant developmental strides witnessed the last four years.
She also congratulated the deputy governor on the conferment of Healthcare Champion Platinum Award on her by national leadership of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN).
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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.
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