News

Continue From Where Birabi, Saro Wiwa Stopped, Amaechi Tells Ogonis

Published

16 years ago

November 28, 2009

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has charged the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality to set aside individual differences and work together to propel the development of the area.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi made the call yesterday, during a Town Hall meeting with Ogoni people at Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni Kingdom, which was called to intimate Ogonis on United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) activities in Ogoniland.

The Governor, who said that the state government expects the leaders of Ogoniland to be selfless in their service to the people, recalled the great contributions of late Paul Naakuu Birabi and late Ken Saro Wiwa to the development of Ogoni and urged others to continue from where they stopped.

He explained that the state and Federal Governments have worked hard to actualize the request for an international organization like UNEP to carry out cleaning and remediation of oil spill sites in Ogoniland.

The governor, therefore, urged the people to cooperate with UNEP to enable them achieve their mission of cleaning and remediating oil spills in Ogoniland, noting that the state government is determined to ensure that the project is successful.

Governor Amaechi said that the Ogoni people were the first, after Isaac Adaka Boro, to start the Niger Delta struggle, pointing out that the state government’s decision to develop Ogoniland was based on their pioneering efforts in the Niger Delta struggle.

The State Chief Executive enjoined the leaders of the Ogonis to stop their children from further destruction of their environment, through illegal bunkering activities as it would damage the ecosystem, emphasizing that “we need you to check crime among the people”.

He urged them to cooperate with the state government to develop the area and announced that the Bori General Hospital would be renovated and equipped in next year to serve the people in addition to the health centres located in various parts of Ogoniland.

Also speaking, the representative UNEP, Mr Mike Cowing said the organization, which has been in Ogoniland on the invitation of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua since 2006, had carried out series of consultations and is now set to commence the study of the environment as requested by the Ogoni people.

The study, according to him, would be carried out with the highest international standard, stressing that it would be the building block for a comprehensive cleaning and remediation of spills in Ogoniland while examination of about 350 contaminated soil samples in the area would commence next week.

Mr Cowing, who lauded the support UNEP has received from the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and other stakeholders, added that they would partner with the Rivers State Polytechnic, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and the University of Port Harcourt in the implementation of the challenging project.

Earlier, in an address presented by the Ogoni people and read on their behalf by the former Commissioner for Education, Mr Tom Orage, the Ogonis expressed confidence that with the visit of the Governor, the intervention by President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua and UNEP is on course and that their legitimate expectation will be given proper attention.

The people who stated categorically that the process of the cleaning and remediation by UNEP was not in any way paving way for SHELL’s re-entry into Ogoniland, used the occasion to request for infrastructural development such as electricity, water, industrial poles and roads among others.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.