News
Bomb Blast Victims Want Govt Aid
The victims of the Warri bomb blast have appealed to the state government to assist them in footing their hospital bills.
The victims, who are receiving treatment in government hospitals in Ekpan and Warri in Delta State made the call in an interview with newsmen in Warri.
A victim, Mr Sunny Yemi, said he took the expressway on the day of the incident on his way to Ifie in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta on his motorcycle.
He said that as he was approaching Government House axis of the expressway, the car bomb exploded, throwing him off the motorcycle.
Yemi, who sustained bruises on his forehead and hands, said he was receiving medical attention in the Warri General Hospital and called on the state government to assist him pay the bills.
He also said that he was yet to recover his motorcycle.
Another victim, Mr Blessing Eweta, said that he boarded a taxi from Okere in Warri to Ubeji when they ran into the explosion on the expressway.
He said that he was unconscious immediately and regained consciousness as he was being taken to hospital.
Eweta thanked God that he survived, but said that he could no longer meet his medical bills or fend for his family.
He said that he was a security employee of Omadinho hospital in Warri and a father of six children, and appealed to Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to his aid.
Our correspondent learnt that the decision of the head teacher of a private primary school in Warri to close the school on the day of the post amnesty dialogue must have saved the pupils lives.
The school, International Unity School (IUS), Edjeba, Warri, shares the same fence with the Government House annex in Warri.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that they quarrelled with their Head Teacher, Miss Evelyn Koko, for imposing a two-day holiday to allow for the dialogue.
The source said, “We were supposed to do revision for the children that Monday and Tuesday before their examination would commence on Wednesday.
“We argued with the head teacher, but she kept on saying that she was not comfortable to allow the children to come to school on those two days.
“She also asked us where would the parents park their cars while bringing the children to school on those days and said that it was better the children stayed home.’’
The source said that when he heard that their school was affected by the explosion, he wondered how many casualties would have been recorded.
“All our louvers shattered, electric bulbs fell of the holders. I wondered how many children would have been cut by the pieces of glasses or what stampede would have caused.
“Parents reaction would have been unimaginable. In fact, that day would have been a black Monday for us but God saved us using our head teacher,’’ the source said.
The proposed two-day Post-Amnesty Dialogue organised by the Vanguard Media Ltd in Warri was abruptly suspended on its first day due to two car bomb explosions.
A faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had claimed responsibility for the explosions, which many Nigerians have condemned.
The dialogue was designed to promote sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.
News
RSHA: Amaewhule-Led Lawmakers Defy Court Order, Elect New Leaders
The crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly took a new twist on Wednesday as lawmakers loyal to the former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, sat under tight security in the complex.
This is contrary to the court order asking the two factions of the State House of Assembly to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit filed by the Edison Ehie faction.
Recall that Ehie faction had obtained a court order that parties should maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit seeking to sack Amaewhule as the House Speaker.
The Rivers Assembly had become factionalised following an unsuccessful move to impeach Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
The Amaewhule-led lawmakers are believed to be loyal to Fubara’s predecessor and political godfather, Nyesom Wike.
It was learnt that ahead of Wednesday’s sitting, cleaners had on Tuesday been deployed to clean up the Assembly complex, which had been under locks, since October 29, following an explosion in the complex the night before.
One of the cleaners said they were instructed to tidy up the complex ahead of a sitting on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the Wednesday sitting was held for about two hours as a team of riot policemen and security vans were stationed in front of the House to prevent any breaches.
It was gathered that the lawmakers elected a former Chief Whip as the new Majority Leader of the Assembly.
The member, representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency 1, Frankline Nwabochi, was named the new Chief Whip.
An unsigned statement sent to the Assembly Press Corps obtained by The Tide said the two new principal officers accordingly took their oath of office.
Amaewhule congratulated them, charging them to be committed to their new responsibilities.
According to the statement, the lawmakers also passed the first reading of a Bill seeking to amend the Rivers State Local Government Law, No. 5 of 2018.
They also debated on the Rivers State House of Assembly Funds Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2023, which passed second reading on Wednesday.
Amaewhule who described the Bill as important, expressed his conviction that Governor Fubara would assent to it after the lawmakers finally pass it.
He hinted that the governor had withheld funds meant for the Assembly for the month of November.
He said the lawmakers were determined to perform their constitutional duties despite the distractions.
He thereafter referred the Bill to the House Committee on Public Accounts for public hearing and further legislative scrutiny.
The other faction of the Assembly led by Ehie, and loyal to Fubara, had yet to react to the Wednesday development as of the time of filing this report.
News
Ogoni Group Mulls Recall Of Lawmakers Over Foiled Fubara’s Impeachment
An Advocacy group in Rivers State, Ogoni Development Drive (ODD), says it has begun the process to recall four Ogoni lawmakers from the Rivers House of Assembly over their alleged roles in the botched impeachment of Governor Similanayi Fubara.
The lawmakers are Dumle Maol (PDP, Gokana constituency), Barile Nwakoh (PDP, Khana), Aforji Igwe (PDP, Eleme) and Bernard Ngba (PDP, Tai).
The group’s Convener, Comrade Solomon Lenu, made this known at a news conference in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Recall that Fubara survived an alleged impeachment plot on October 30.
ODD said it had on November 10 issued a seven-day ultimatum to the four Ogoni lawmakers who partook in the plot that attempted to serve an impeachment notice to Governor Fubara.
The four lawmakers, now suspended, were asked to apologise to the Ogoni people whom they represent and to Gov. Fubara for denigrating his exalted office or risk being recalled.
“Instead of heeding this advice and embracing the olive branch extended to them, they rather embarked on an egocentric escapade,” the group said.
Lenu further said the lawmakers rather than heed to the advice by ODD, engaged in various meetings that purportedly plotted to unseat the governor.
“Governor Fubara was collectively voted for by the entire Rivers people, and as such, the action by the lawmakers has not gone well with all men and women of conscience.
“It is illogical for the erring assembly members to think it is right to impeach an innocent governor for no just cause but wrong to recall them for erring against their constituents.
“The suspended lawmakers called a bluff of ODD ultimatum, and so, we have decided to carry out this recall process in earnest, to put our democracy aright,” he said.
Lenu said the group had already reached an advanced level in sensitising and mobilising the lawmaker’s constituents to recall them.
He said that ODD had also obtained the comprehensive voters’ register of all voters in the four local government areas and constituencies.
According to him, an electronic capture form has also been created to make the petition process easier for students at various tertiary school campuses and those on holiday to sign the petition.
“So far, the response from the aggrieved constituents has been very impressive, and we shall in a few weeks’ time complete the compilation of the required signatures.
“The signatures are required for INEC to call for a referendum, which shall be carried out in branches with strict security guidance, to abort any sinister counterplot against democracy.
“We know this process is not going to be easy, but we are ready to go all the way, to create a sense of responsibility in our elected leaders,” he said.
Lenu said instilling a sense of responsibility in politicians and elected leaders would further entrench democratic tenets in the country.
The ODD convener called on the people of Ogoni to come forward and sign the petition, to end political “jamboree and illicit godfatherism” in the state.
The Tide reports that 26 lawmakers on Oct. 30 proceeded to impeach Fubara but were stopped by four pro-Fubara lawmakers led by Ehie Edison (PDP-Ahoada East II).
Mr Martins Amaewhule (Obio Akpor constituency), a close ally of a former governor, was later ousted as Speaker and Ehie sworn in as the new Speaker.
However, Amaewhule insists that he is still the Speaker of the House of Assembly, resulting in some form of confusion over the office of the Speaker.
News
FRSC Commander Faces Sanction Over Unauthorised Comments
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), yesterday, disowned the Unit Commander, Central Business District Unit Command, Assistant Corps Commander IL Ibrahim, over his recent statement on Vehicle Inspection Officers, otherwise known as Directorate of Road Traffic Services.
Ibrahim was quoted to have said that VIO officials did not have the right to arrest road traffic violators, including overloaded vehicles and motorists caught using phones while driving.
But Deputy Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement, yesterday, said Ibrahim’s comment was not the position of the Corps.
Kazeem added that the concerned official had been recalled to the national headquarters for necessary disciplinary action.
The statement read, “The Federal Road Safety Corps wishes to make a pertinent clarification regarding the pronouncement by the Unit Commander, Central Business District Unit Command, Assistant Corps Commander IL Ibrahim, that Vehicle Inspection Officers, otherwise known as Directorate of Road Traffic Services, do not have the right to arrest road traffic violators, including overloaded vehicles and motorists caught using phones while driving.
“The general public is advised to disregard the statement as it had no approval of the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, and does not in anyway reflect the corporate or general position of the Corps.
“It is important for the public know that the laws establishing VIOs/State Traffic Management Agencies give them the statutory mandate to make arrests on different offences depending on the state within which they operate. As such, the agencies should be given the maximum cooperation for the enhancement of safety on our roads.
“On this note and in line with sustaining the Corps’ resolve that road safety is a collective responsibility, and in acknowledgement of the roles the State Traffic Management Agencies like the Vehicle Inspection Officers play in complementing the statutory responsibilities of the FRSC through enforcement of traffic laws, the Corps Marshal has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the Unit Commander to the national headquarters for necessary administrative and disciplinary actions.
“The public is admonished to always comply with all established traffic regulations and cooperate with security agencies deployed to maintain law and order on the highways, irrespective of their corporate mandate.”
-
Politics2 days ago
Rivers PDP Chair Renews Call For Peace, Warns Against Divisive Tendencies
-
News2 days ago
Ogoni Group Mulls Recall Of Lawmakers Over Foiled Fubara’s Impeachment
-
Business2 days ago
FG Earmarks N100bn For Auto-Gas, CNG Buses, EVs
-
Rivers2 days ago
‘Leadership, Beyond Accolades, Awards’ …As 17 Bag Leadership Awards
-
Sports2 days ago
Peseiro Optimistic To Win 2024 AFCON
-
Nation2 days ago
NPA Clears Air On $852.93m , N1.8bn Audit Query
-
News2 days ago
Tinubu Appoints New Governing Board, Mgt Team For NCDMB
-
Politics2 days ago
NYCN Chieftain Harps On Fubara’s Governance Credentials