Politics
RSG To Seal Dirty Business Places, Illegal Motor Parks
The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has warned that henceforth, business houses with refuses littered around their precincts would be sealed up by the state government.
Governor Wike who gave the warning last Thursday during the inspection of four ongoing flyover projects in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the state also warned those operating illegal motor parks and business activities around the flyover project sites to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The Governor said the decision was informed by the carefree attitude displayed by members of the public towards issues of sanitation, adding that his administration has the political will to implement the new order for the highly needed change of behaviour on sanitation.
“So all those who litter refuse, and operate motor parks will have themselves to blame. This is not the time people will tell you that the economy is hard , does it mean that you will sell your goods and litter the places with refuse?
“ Why do you have to litter the area, thinking that government will come and clean them up for you. Nobody will do that any longer “, Governor Wike said.
The flyover projects inspected were the Rumuola, the GRA Junction, Orochiri/ Worukwo, and Oro-Abali flyovers.
As Muslims celebrated Eid-el- Kabir last week, the Rivers State Chief Executive enjoined Nigerian Muslims to emulate Holy Prophet Mohammed by imbibing the ideals of sacrifice examplified by the prophet.
Governor Wike, in his Sallah message, described Eid-el-Kabir as a season of love, peace, friendship and sacrifice. He urged Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance so as to promote peace across the country and enhance national development.
He thanked Muslim community in the state for their sustained support to his administration, promising that his government would continue to partner with Muslims to move the state forward.
Also last week, Governor Wike was at the site of the new official quarters of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly under construction, to see the extent of work done so far.
He lauded the harmonious relationship existing between the executive and the other two arms of government in the state. According to him, the good working relationship existing between the arms of government engendered the accelerated development being achieved by his administration.
“ Frankly speaking, it would have been difficult if we do not have a good, robust relationship between the three arms of government. Yes , we are independent but we work cooperatively to see that the state moves forward.
“ If we have the relationship that is not good with the legislature, then how would they have passed the budget for us to implement “, he said.
He stated that the numerous projects being embarked by his administration had created huge employment opportunities for the youths in the state and expressed delight over the quality of job at the project site.
“ Look at the number of people who are working here. Assuming we don’t have this kind of project. This is one particular project , but look at the number of people that are being employed , and then multiply it with the number of projects going on simultaneously in the state, that will tell you the number of persons who are being employed in the state “, Wike said.
Also last week, the state government raised alarm over a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to denigrate the administration of Governor Wike, using selected media houses in the state.
A release by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said the orchestrated campaign spear headed by the former Governorship aspirant of APC , Dr Dakuku Peterside was mischievously designed to portray the government of Gov Wike as one that has failed to meet the developmental spirations of Rivers people.
The release stated that no matter how hard the distractors push their propaganda, Gov Wike will never be distracted in executing his social contract with the people of the state.
Also within the week under review, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, was in Government House, Port Harcourt on a courtesy visit to the state Governor .
Their discussion centred on partnership between Korea and the state on the areas of agriculture, technical or vocational education, health , construction , among others.
By: Chris Oluoh
The Rivers contest is expected to draw heightened attention in the oil-rich state, as political actors position for influence in a district long regarded as strategic to the balance of power in Rivers State.
INEC disclosed that the by-elections will hold concurrently with the Ekiti State governorship election, underscoring what promises to be a politically charged day across several parts of the country.
Beyond Rivers, the electoral body listed other affected constituencies to include Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, Ondo South Senatorial District, and Enugu North Senatorial District.
The vacancies, according to INEC, arose from a combination of deaths, resignation, and other constitutional developments. In Nasarawa, the demise of Senator Godiya Akwashika has left a gap in a district considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Enugu, the passing of Senator Okey Ezea has set the stage for a competitive race in the South-East.
Similarly, the Ondo South seat became vacant following the resignation of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who now serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa seat in Kano opened up after the death of Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan.
Analysts say the Rivers South-East by-election, in particular, could reshape political alignments in the state, as parties jostle to fill the void left by Sen. Mpigi and consolidate their foothold ahead of future electoral contests.
Stakeholder from Bayelsa East Senatorial District, on Monday, endorsed the incumbent Senator representing them to run for a second term.
Leading the stakeholders, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Political Affairs (iii), Dr Iti Orugbani, said the reason for the endorsement was based on the federal lawmaker’s trajectory of good deeds and massive execution of projects across communities of the Senatorial district.
Dr Orugbani highlighted some of the projects to include landing jetties, telecommunication masts and town halls amongst others, noting that Sen. Agadaga’s performance has exceeded those of others who hitherto represented the oil rich area.
Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprises Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor’s aide who called on the State’s Eastern political enclave to respect the 2022 new zoning agreement, which guaranteed second term for Senators from the District, stressed the need for political tolerance and peace in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
“In 2022 the leaders and stakeholders across party lines from Bayelsa East held a meeting and altered the old single term for Senators from the district’s agreement and signed that begining from 2023 any Senator emerging from the district must serve for a minimum of two terms.
“In 2023, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, then an incumbent Senator representing the Senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was given a second term ticket by the party. Though he lost to the PDP.
“Now that the entire state is now APC and the District has an APC Senator in the person of Benson Agadaga from Ogbia LGA, why not also give him a second tenure?
“The stakeholders in 2022 changed the old political agreement because they saw that it wasn’t beneficial to the district any longer. And so, because it was Ogbia Local Government Area that started the old zoning arrangement by producing the first Senator in 1999, I want to plead that let Ogbia also begin the new two terms zoning agreement”, he said.
Also speaking, the duo of woman leader of a support group, ‘Agadema Women’, Mrs. Owadaba Jokori and the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Comrade Ikio, stated that the incumbent Senator has done well for the district in the past three years that he has been in office.
They lauded the federal lawmaker for his infrastructure projects, especially the construction of landing jetties in select communities of the three local government areas of the district, commending stakeholders for supporting the lawmaker in his second term bid.
In his remarks, Senator Agadaga thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and the endorsements he has received lately from constituents and admirers across political parties.
The lawmaker noted that within the past three years that he has been Senator, he has delivered dividends of democracy to his constituents across the Senatorial District, emphasizing that the call for him to be senator from the Brass Senatorial District came to him as a surprise, noting that he accepted the clarion call when the clamour became so loud.
“I was Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, when various groups from the zone came calling on me to contest the 2023 Senatorial polls.
“Ever since winning the elections as a senator, I’ve continued to deliver on my mandate in both representation, lawmaking, oversight, project execution and support for constituents when called upon. And I shall continue to do more if elected for a second term”, the Senator said.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 15 as deadline for definite hearing in a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The judge on Monday shifted the hearing date following the absence of the plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, and his lawyer in court without any information.
Apart from the absence of the plaintiff, who is a legal practitioner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
Following the absence of the plaintiff and the two defendants, Chris Uche, SAN, representing Dr Jonathan, applied to the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Mr Uche said, the suit is liable for dismissal with a N5 million cost to be awarded against the plaintiff and payable to Dr Jonathan.
He argued that from all indications, the plaintiff has abandoned the suit and ran away upon sighting the preliminary objections raised against the suit, adding that the court is a busy place and not for unserious matters.
Justice Lifu, however, noted that there was no evidence of service of hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court for the suit, adding that lack of service of hearing notice is fundamental.
The judge said rather than striking out the suit, he prefers to bend backward to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While adjourning the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday.
The plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, had filed the case seeking an order to restrain Dr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as an aspirant for the 2027 election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Dr Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
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