Politics
RSG Signs Contracts For Trans – Kalabari Road
Last week , Rivers State Government signed contracts for the construction of two major roads — the Trans- Kalabari Road project (phase one), and the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road (phase two).
At the event which took place last Wednesday at Government House, Port Harcourt, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mrs Ebere Emenike signed on behalf of the state government while the General Manager of CCECC, Zou Xiaowei and his Deputy, Gao Qiang, the General Manager of Lubrick Construction Company, Rabich Elramedi and Kennedy Odogbo, signed for their respective companies.
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said the signing of the two projects was a demonstration of the importance his administration places on opening up more rural communities.
Also last week, the state security outfit code named, C.4.I was re-launched to boost security in the state.
Governor Wike, who presented 29 operational vehicles to the Police at the event which took place at Government House, Port Harcourt, urged the Police to be more proactive in combating crimes by taking the battle to the criminals.
The Governor noted that his administration has sustained its support to security agencies in the state, but expressed dismay that two armoured helicopters worth over $10 million which the state government gave to the Nigerian Airforce to fight oil theft and sea piracy in the state have been diverted to fighting Boko Haram.
The Governor warned that the state government would not hesitate to withdraw the gunboats it was about to present to the Army, Navy the Police if they are deployed for use in other states.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 16 , Austin Agbonlohor commended the governor for his continued support to the Police.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the sacking of the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Igbiks Tamuno by govovernor Wike. The governor directed the sacked Commissioner to submit all government property and documents in his possession to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
According to the governor, the Commissioner was sacked because he engaged in acts amounting to sabotage. He was alleged to have written a letter to Julius Berger, directing the company to stop ongoing state projects without the consent of the Governor.
“ I don’t know how a Commissioner can write a company to stop work without my approval, and Julius Berger in that matter, to stop construction in the entire state. I have never heard of such thing before. I don’t know that the commissioners have so much power like that,” the governor said .
As the world celebrates this year’s Easter, the Rivers State Governor has urged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ by making sacrifices that would advance the course of development.
The Governor’s Easter message which was contained in a release signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, called on the people of the state to rededicate themselves to the service of the state as they reflect on the ideals of Good Friday and Easter celebrations.
Governor Wike also urged the privileged in the society to reach out to the less privileged as everyone works to deepen the culture of true Christianity , before, during and after the celebrations, promising that he would continue to make sacrifices for the state, defend her interest and provide good governance.
Within the week under review, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba paid Gov Wike a courtesy visit at Government House. The minister said he was in the state for the official launch of “ Better Education Service Delivery For All Programme for Result” .
Governor Wike used the occasion to dissociate himself from those calling for the scrapping of the counterpart funding for basic education in the country. He said counterpart funding avails state governments opportunity to show commitment in the provision of good educational foundation for children in their states.
He noted that his administration places high premium for education hence nothing less than 30 per cent is being allocated to the sector in the state budget . He called on the Federal Government to increase it’s budgetary allocation on education because of the importance of the sector
Excited by the award of the Trans-Kalabari Road project, the Kalabari Traditional Rulers Council, led by the King of Abonnema, King Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel , paid a thank you visit to Gov Wike last Friday in Brick House.
King Bob-Manuel expressed gratitude of the entire Kalabari people to the Gov for breaking the jinx that had frustrated progress with the Trans-Kalabari Road project.
Gov Wike said the essence of the critical projects in Kalabari Communities was to secure enduring development and not politics as beilng misconstrued by some critics of his administration. He charged the people of the area to secure the project by providing internal security.
Also last week, Gov Wike presented certificate of recognition and staff of office to His Royal Majesty, Nyenwe Eli Omunakwe Nyeche Nsirim and Amangada XI of Rebisi Kingdom , His Royal Highness, Eze Anthony Worlu Akarolo.
By: Chris Oluoh
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
