Rivers
Amaechi Warns Youths Against Harassment Of Companies
Rivers State Government has again warned Community Youth bodies to desist from harassing companies operating in the state.
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who handed down the warning, Friday, while addressing protesting Rebisi Youths at the Government House gate in Port Harcourt, said government has outlawed the system in which Youths and Community Leaders harassed companies operating in the state with demands.
The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Magnus Abe, warned that youth bodies should desist from approaching companies for whatever reason as the government has instructed the firms not to listen to any demands from such bodies.
He explained that the Bill prohibiting such harassment from Community and Youth organisations would soon be forwarded to the State House of Assembly, and the law when passed, provides for three years imprisonment without an option of fine for anyone convicted.
“You can no longer go to companies to squeeze them, we would not allow it and we would fight it to the end,” he declared, and advised the youths to look for something meaningful to do.
He said any community or group that has any grievance against any company, should channel such matters to the relevant ministries for prompt attention.
While noting that time has come for youths in the state to do things differently, he emphasized that what the youth groups can do now is to organise themselves positively, so as to benefit from government’s laudable programmes such s scholarships.
Governor Amaechi continued that companies operating in the state must be allowed to work without any hindrance, to enable them expand their business and employ more Rivers people, rather than impose staff on them, adding that the government was working hard to provide a conducive atmosphere for businesses to flourish.
He promised to look into the allegations raised by the protesting youths against the company.
Earlier, the Secretary of Rebisi Youth Progressive Alliance, Mr Edward Odum, said Weatherford Nigeria Limited terminated the employment of 18 indigenes of their community, and replaced them with non-Rivers People.
Mr Odum said the company rebuffed efforts to hold dialogue with the youth body, and appealed to the state government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the maltreatment of Rivers indigenes in the company.
The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, has stated that the Rivers State Government is committed in the development of education in the state.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Education on Media, Faustina Nwaneku and made available to The Tide, Wednesday; in Port Harcourt said Prof Ebeku made the disclosure when he visited some Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) Centres in the State.
Interacting with pupils at the Centres visited, Prof. Ebeku said the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, was determined to addressing the issues of out-of-school children through the provision of free education in the state and implementation of BESDA programme.
He said “The government knows that the future lies with you. The young shall grow and if we do not make effort to ensure that you learn something, then we do not have a future as a people.”
The Education Commissioner also commended the facilitators at the Centres for the professional discharge of their teaching duties,
He said he was impressed with the teacher-pupil relationship he observed during the visit.
Speaking to the children he said: “I am happy to come here to see you all today. I have participated in your literacy class and I can see you are doing well. I can see you are eager and hungry for knowledge”.
Prof. Ebeku was guided to the BESDA Centres by the Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Fynface Akah, and some staff of the Board.
The Tide reports that the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) is a programme designed to increase equitable access for out-of-school children, improve literacy in focus States, and strengthen accountability for results in basic education in Nigeria.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
A High Court in Port Harcourt has remanded to police custody a suspected fake lawyer, Stanley Epini Ejiroghene Adjogbe who has been practicing in the State for over 10 years.
Adjogbe was remanded following the plea by the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, Prince Nyekwere that the suspect may escape if he was allowed to go.
Justice C. Nwogu in his ruling directed the prosecutor from the office of the Commissioner of Police to take custody of the suspected fake lawyer pending the outcome of their investigation.
The Tide reports that the suspected fake lawyer, Stanley was exposed on Wednesday, during cross-examination when he failed to answer correctly questions bordering on his identity as a legal practitioner.
Also, the suspected fake lawyer could not tell the court the law school he attended, the year he graduated and when he was called to the Bar.
He also could not mention the university he attended as a law student.
The Tide further reports that the defence team in the criminal matter also tendered reports from the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the national leadership of NBA disowning the identity of Mr. Stanley Epini Ejiroghene Adjogbe as a genuine legal practitioner in the country.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NBA, Port Harcourt branch, Prince Nyekwere in an interview explained the reasons he demanded that the suspected fake lawyer be remanded in Police custody.
Also, Ibikiri Otorubio, the lawyer who cross-examined the suspected fake lawyer in the case of a bounced cheque,, explained why they suspected that the lawyer is fake.
Mr. Otorubio said if the suspected fake lawyer was found guilty, he would face a jail term of 14 years.
The 6 Division Nigeria Army Port Harcourt says the Exercise “Still Water” operation designed to clear up crime and criminality during Ember months has recorded success with the civil- military cooperation in the State.
The Garrison Commander, 6 Division Nigeria Army Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Muhammed Danja, made this known during a novelty football match between Ahoada West Football Club and Python Football Club at Ahoada-East Local Government Area.
Danja maintained that the football match was part of the civil- military responsibility of Exercise Still Water operation in the state.
On his part, the chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Ben Eke, commended the efforts of the military in curbing the activities of illegal petroleum products taking place in the area
Eke also called for more collaboration in fighting other crimes in the area
The Tide reports that the Ahoada East Football Club defeated the Python Football Club by a lone, following a tension pact and keenly contested encounter.
Prizes and awards were presented by the Garrison commander to the match officials, judges, three most valuable players, the winners and the 2nd runners-up.
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