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Amaechi Promises N5bn Support To Rivers People

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Following a disparaging statement by Presidnet Goodluck
Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe on the person of Governor Chibuike Amaechi last week, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, David Iyofor has described Okupe as President Jonathan’s worst enemy.
In a press statement he issued on Sunday last week, Iyofor urged President Jonathan to get rid of Okupe and other of his aides who resort to name calling than addressing public issues.
The president’s aide, the statement noted, was descending low to “become the Chief Advocate and Defender-In-Chief of the commissioner of police, Rivers State, Mbu . J. Mbu.”
Okupe had attributed the heightened call for Mbu’s redeployment to political machinations by the state governor. But Iyofor replied that “it is certainly rude, uncharitable, il-mannered and hypocritical for Okupe to falsely and superciliously allege that Amaechi is a willing tool to any person or group against President Jonathan.
Returning from Abuja on Monday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi commissioned the Eleme Regional Water Scheme, jointly built by the Rivers State Government. While expressing appreciation for the role Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited played in providing potable wate to the people of Eleme and environs he urged the people to guard against vandalisation of the facility.
Amaechi however, harped on the need for sustenance of the water scheme through the setting up of a Water Development Authority in Eleme. But commissioners for Water Resources/Rural Development, Ms Patricia Simon-Hart noted that a Water Consumer Association has been established in each of the clans to oversee the management of the scheme.
Early on Tuesday, Governor Amaechi swore-in a new Acting Chief Judge of the State in the person of Justice Peter Agumagu. Until his appointment,  Justice Agumagu was the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal.
Amaechi later said, “We looked at the constitution and the constitution says the most senior Judge of the High Court and we looked at your appointment and compared it to the rest of the judges in the State and realised that you are the most senior judge in the State.”
On the same day, he processed to unveil the 2013 “Job Fair,” jointly organized by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and the Ministry of Employment Generation.
The governor tasked the youths to be innovative as a way of engaging themselves… “If you continue to wait for the job fair to be organised annually for you to get employment, you may end up dying of hunger and poverty. You must therefore be creative.”
He promised to release N5billion to provide financial support to people who are ready to be self-reliant and innovative to borrow at subsidized low cost to set up their own business.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wogu Boms shortly after a meeting with Niger Delta Bishops Forum addressed press men over reactions trailing the appointments of Acting Chief Judge of the State.
He said, “Justice PNC Agumagu, the Acting Chief Judge is the oldest judge (in terms of service) now in Rivers State. There is no judge older in appointment than he is and Justice Agumagu was appointed a High Court Judge. He was never appointed a Customary Court of Appeal Judge.”
Boms went on to explain that there was nothing illegal or unconstitutional about Agumagu’s appointment, adding that, “you are aware that there was a recommendation by the National Judicial Commission as to who would be Chief Judge. The State government is processing that and we sent it to parliament which is the next step, so before that is done we appointed the Most Senior Judge as Acting Chief Judge.”
On Friday, State Governor addressed protesting nurses from the school of Nursing and school of Midwifery through Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker over kidnap of  their teacher, Mrs Beauty Frank Daminabo. They called on the government to intensify efforts to free her. They lamented that the development has affected academic activities.
Chief of Staff Government House, Sir Tony Okocha on Saturday commended the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor and his wife over the free medical scheme, and pledged government support.

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Kwankwaso Agrees To Rejoin APC, Gives Terms, Conditions

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has given terms and conditions to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sen. Kwankwaso, while addressing a gathering at his Kano residence, said any political alliance must recognise and respect the interests of his party and political movement.

The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.

In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.

“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.

“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.

“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.

“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.

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I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo 

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.

Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.

“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.

Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.

“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.

He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”

On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.

Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.

He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.

He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.

“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.

“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.

“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”

The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.

 

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Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

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The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.

President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.

The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.

The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.

Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.

The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.

However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.

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