Politics

Rivers Youths Support Amaechi

Published

13 years ago

July 15, 2013

Last week started on a sour note with the crisis that rocked the hallowed chambers of the State House of Assembly over failed attempt by five anti-Governor Amaechi Lawmakers to impeach the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree.
The desperate lawmakers after their failed bid on Tuesday, started a free-for-all fight. The governor came to the rescue when some legislators supporting him were beaten up during the rowdy session.
Leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, who narrated his ordeal in a hospital bed recalled how he was hit several times with a camera tripod stand by.
Hon. Oke Chinda before he defended himself. Shortly after the crisis, the governor, represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, went to the House for the presentation of a bill to amend the 2013 Appropriation Bill to accommodate some sub-heads for capital expenditure.
Though the deputy governor was attacked by some hoodlums in the House of Assembly Complex, he got the approval of 23 lawmakers who reconvened for a full session of the House later.
On Wednesday, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly debunked claims of alleged impeachment of Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree. Their statement was signed by 26 lawmakers loyal to Governor Amaechi.
On the same day, youths from across the 23 local government area of the state marched down to the House of Assembly Complex to pledge their support to the Speaker.
Police shot tear gas to disperse the youths, who later – converged at the Government House pledging their unalloyed support to Governor Amaechi.
Despite the tensed atmosphere on Wednesday, some members of the African Union Party Parliamentary Group of Nigeria, led by Meg Hillier paid a courtesy visit to Governor Amaechi.
Mr. Hillier praised the governor for the developmental strides saying, “We have seen the new model primary and secondary schools and we also visited some primary health centres built by the Rivers State government”.
Thursday last week, the Revenue Mobilization Fiscal commission visited Government House to intimate the governor of plans to commence a new revenue sharing formula.
Leader of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission team, Chief Nimi Dambo Kalabo, told Governor Amaechi who was represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru, that the commission plans a stakeholders forum across the zone, in order to come up with an equitable revenue sharing formula.
Engr. Tele Ikuru, while praising the commission for the plans harped on the need for a just and equitable revenue sharing formula insisting that those who produce more should earn more.
Shortly after the visit of the revenue mobilization and Fiscal Commission on Thursday, the senate committee on states and local government administration mandated by the senate to investigate the crisis in Rivers State House of Assembly visited Amaechi.
Led by its Chairman, Senator Kabiri Gaya, the committee condemned in totality what happened on Tuesday at Rivers State House of Assembly RSHA.
While calling on all parties to sheath their swords Gaya said the body would meet with all parties before returning to Abuja with their report.
Governor Amaechi later told the visiting panel that the state has been under siege since after he won the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), lamenting the use of federal might in the withdrawal of his security aids.
Amaechi later met with the executive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter led its chairman, Chief Chris Oruge who expressed labour’s concern over political crisis in the state.
He added, “ Labour in the state in solidly behind you and we will continue to support because since this crisis began we have not heard anybody pinpointing that Amaechi has embezzled our money”.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

News

Oji Clears Air On Appointment Of 15 Special Advisers By Fubara

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.

Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.

He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.

According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.

On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.

He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.

Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.

Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.

He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.

The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.

He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.

Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.

King Onunwor

Politics

Rivers Political Crisis: PANDEF Urges Restraint, Mutual Forbearance

Published

3 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for restraint and mutual forbearance over the recent political development in Rivers State.

The Forum has also set up a high level Reconciliation Committee chaired by a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

This is contained in a press statement released in Abuja on Saturday.

The statement was jointly signed by PANDEF’s Board of Trustees Co-Chairmen, Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, and Obong Victor Attah (a former governor of Akwa Ibom State), as well as PANDEF’s National Chairman, Chief Godknows Igali.

Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.

“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.

“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.

“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.

The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.

“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.

“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.

PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.