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Amaechi: Labour Activist Lashes Clark

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In the unfolding political drama in the country, a labour and political activist in Rivers State, Comrade James Kobah, has called on Ijaw leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin. K. Clark to leave the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi alone and refrain from witch-hunting him.
Comrade Kobah while bemoaning the political travails of Governor Amaechi, accused the Ijaw leader of misleading President Goodluck Jonathan in the current political crisis in the country.
He said Chief Clark did not show political wisdom when he recently called for the immediate expulsion of the Rivers State governor from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for alleged anti-party activities. He called on Clark to go home and “rest since he has nothing to offer Mr President”.
He added that the Ijaw leader should also be held responsible for the failure of the Jonathan administration.
Comrade Kobah spoke when he addressed a cross section of the media in Port Harcourt last Wednesday.
“Chief Clark says he has a new wife at 84. He should rest at home and manage his new wife. He should rest at home and enjoy his new wife since he has nothing to offer Mr President. We are not happy over what is going on now in the state, especially when people like Chief E. K. Clark are involved in misleading Mr President (Goodluck Jonathan). We want to ask him (Clark) to leave Amaechi and Rivers State alone. He can continue to deceive Mr President if Mr President decides to accept his advice. There is a crisis in which people, governors, national and state Assembly members are pulling out of the PDP and he’s still there deceiving Mr. President.
“When Amaechi became governor of this state, yes, most of us anticipated that he would have problems with some people because of his philosophy, his concept of government. You know he (Amaechi) is one who enjoyed justice to become governor of this state, so I think that influenced his character, and of course, his very first pronouncement was that this government is not a continuation of any previous government.  Government House was spending about N1.3 billion monthly on Government House. When Amaechi came in he cut it to about N400 million. This shows some level of prudence and commitment. There should be no bias about it.”
He described Governor Amaechi as a brilliant and focused political leader who should not be punished for ‘nursing’ any political ambition, if he has any.
Kobah emphasised the strategic importance of Rivers State in the electoral fortunes of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), recalling that the state gave President Jonathan massive votes in the 2011 elections. “Whether we like it or not, Rivers State is critical to any election in this country”, he said.
On the prospect of the PDP reconciling its aggrieved members, the activist said while he would welcome reconciliation in the party, it would be dangerous for the country if the progressive-minded ones in the party would stop the struggle for true development on the altar of reconciliation.
He said, “If you believe in a cause which people have now bought into, why not, if they want to resolve, but it will be unfair for them and dangerous for this country that the progressives that have emerged collapse under any form of resolution, negotiation, except their idea of development should go on. I am one man who doesn’t believe in being loyal to stupidity. I never did that in my life. What I believe in is what I follow”.
He noted that the Rivers State governor would not be subdued by his political enemies because God is on his side. Again, he said Governor Amaechi succeeds because there is some level of justice in all the actions he had taken.
“Of course, you can see that Amaechi’s cause is being fought by God. There is no way he could have survived in the system till today if God is not on his side, and so, every action anybody takes without some dosage of justice in it, doesn’t survive.
“Amaechi is succeeding today because there is some level of justice in all the actions he had taken. So we are not happy about what Chief Clark is doing. I think that he is making Mr President to fail both in his administration and even his second term ambition, he said.

A faction of Mile One Rumuwoji Market Traders Association protesting the removal of their chairman in Port Harcourt last Wednesday

A faction of Mile One Rumuwoji Market Traders Association protesting the removal of their chairman in Port Harcourt last Wednesday

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NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam

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The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.

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Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence

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The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.

The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.

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Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027

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A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.

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