News

OPC Wants Buhari To Shun Court Action

Published

15 years ago

May 13, 2011

The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) yesterday advised the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), against challenging the results of the 2011 polls in court.

The group also demanded an apology from Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State to Nigerian youths, students and the entire nation.

The founder of OPC, Dr Frederick Fasheun told journalists in Lagos that any court case by Buhari at this time would smack of insensitivity and would only overheat the polity.

“It is significant that Gen. Buhari’s own coordinators in the South-East have vilified him for contesting the result in their zone, saying that they lost fair and square,’’ he said.

Fasheun said that while Buhari could not be denied his right to seek redress, he should approach the courts only if he was ready to comply with certain conditions.

“In line with due process and in the spirit of coming to equity with clean hands, Buhari and the CPC must permit the scrutiny of incidents of millions of under-age voters reported in parts where he and his party scored sizeable votes.

“He must submit his scores for the subtraction of votes garnered from the vast number of under-age voters.

“Buhari must give an undertaking that should he lose the case, he would forfeit his position as a retired Army General, former Head of State, member of the Council of States and all National Merit Awards,’’ Fasheun said.

On comments reportedly made by Gov. Yuguda over the killing of NYSC members during the violence that trailed the presidential election, Fasheun, described the statement as insulting, provocative, unguarded and reckless.

The governor was quoted by the media as saying that the killing of NYSC members in his state should be accepted as an act of destiny.

The OPC founder said that leaders of ethnic organisations held back from retaliating over the killings of corps members from their zones out of considerations for President Goodluck Jonathan and their love for democracy.

Fasheun demanded a thorough investigation of Yuguda’s role in the brutal killing of youth corps members in Bauchi State.

He noted that Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s regime established the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1973 as a post-civil war formula to “Keep Nigeria One’’.

“Now that this country is no longer at war, do we still need the NYSC 38 years after? Every year, the country loses young, bright Nigerians in the NYSC to sectarian crisis, mostly in the North.

“Against this background, Nigerians expect that the first assignment of the incoming National Assembly will be to consider a Bill to modify or repeal the NYSC Act,’’ Fasheun said.

He said, however, that if the scheme must be retained, the authorities should put in place a system whereby fresh graduates would serve only within their regions of origin.

Fasheun also urged the Federal Government to immediately institute a compensation and insurance package for corps members, to be funded by the NYSC and the host states.

“The family of any youth corps members who dies in the course of serving his fatherland should receive a minimum compensation of N20 million,’’ he said.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

11 hours 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

12 hours 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

12 hours 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.