News

Crisis Rocks Rivers CAN

Published

12 years ago

June 5, 2013

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has started spreading to the opposition party ,the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) in the state following suspension and counter suspension of top members of the party in the state.

Twenty four hours after the announcement of the suspension of the National Treasurer of the party, Mr Kenneth Kobani, and four others by the state acting Chairman,Mr Esuku M Esuku,the party has also announced the suspension of Mr Esuku for an alleged financial misappropriation and collection of money from an opposing party.

In a press statement yesterday, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) alleged that Mr Esuku was suspended based on information that the acting Chairman collected financial inducement to register members and to work for the Governor of Rivers State, Rt.Hon Chibuike Amaechi.

The statement signed by the State Secretary, Mr Amonibia Akolo and the Chairman of the Chairmen’s Forum of ACN, Mr Hope Onyeche further alleged that the acting chairman collected the sum of N4million which has not been accounted for,N8million from Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of local government election.

The party, however asked the suspended party chairman to return the party’s property in his possession, alleging that the chairman was working with the state government to register members for African Progressives Congress (APC)

According to the statement,’’ by these actions, Mr Esuku has demonstrated that he is contemptible, selfish, a non serious party man, and someone that should not be trusted by the people”.

The party, therefore, stated that Mr Esuku’s action of working with the Rivers State government was personal and selfish, and not in the interest of ACN and Rivers people.

The party alleged that Mr Esuku’s action of an accepting bribe from the Rivers State Government was unhealthy and not in the spirit of the ACN.

‘’The party, therefore, in its emergency meeting yesterday in Port Harcourt, considered it expedient and resolved to suspend Mr Esuku M. Esuku from the party in accordance with the rules and regulations, and relevant statutory provisions of the party’s Constitution.

The party also refuted the statement credited to Esuku M. Esuku purporting to have suspended some principal officers of the party, including the National Treasurer, Hon Kenneth Kobani and state Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, describing it as false and misleading”, and therefore, urged the general public to discountenance the alleged suspension.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the party in the 2011 elections, Dr Abiye Precious Sekibo has dismissed the suspension of Hon Kenneth Kobani, Jerry Needam, Lolo Ibieneye and Alali Green, explaining that the action of the acting chairman was to destabilise the party, which has remained the only voice of the opposition in the state.

Dr Sekibo said there was no meeting where the party took the decision to suspend the five members in the state.

He accused Esuku of selling out to justify monetary inducements he might have received, urging members of the ACN, Rivers people and the general public to discountenance the false announcement.

The former Secretary to the State Government maintained that the party stands for the interest of Rivers people and against the injustice done to them.

‘’As a people-oriented party, we’ll continue to protect and promote the welfare of Rivers people and ensure their hard earned resources and taxes are judiciously spent’, he said.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

22 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

22 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

22 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.