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APC, Others React To Police Ban On Rallies …Begins Membership Registration,Today
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has described the recent ban of poltical rallies by the State Police Command as an act of illegality and abuse of the inalienable rights of the people to freely associate as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria.
The Party, which stated this in a statement, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said it regarded the ban on rallies as a direct declaration of War on the long suffering people of Rivers State.
The statement, signed by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Senior Special Assistant to the Interim State Chairman, noted that the directive was aimed at disrupting the APC membership drive and registration scheduled to commence today in Rivers State.
According to him, “Our members and supporters are scheduled to commence registration on Wednesday (today)”, adding that the directive was clearly targeted at frustrating the exercise after APC had already trained officers and moblisied materials to all the wards and units in the state.
“The latest impunity by Mbu Joseph Mbu was designed to sabotage our membership drive. The plan will fail as the Police lack powers to stop the nationwide registration of the APC exercise from holding in Rivers State”.
Chief Eze said the party in the state had directed its lawyers to challenge the order in court as it had instructed its resigration officers to go ahead with the registration exercise.
He warned that if the Police intention was to use the ban to disrupt its registration exercise, then it was an exercise in futility.
Also reacting to the ban, the President of the Save Rivers Movement, Mr. Charles Ahorlu said the Police had no right to ban political rallies in the state.
Ahorlu, who spoke in a telephone interview, explained that the state Police Command was arrogating to itself the power not vested in it by the Nigerian constitution.
According to him, “we will not take the ban on rallies lightly. Where were the Police when the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) was moving around all nooks and crannies of the state, holding political rallies in the local government areas of the state”.
Meanwhile, the GDI said it was ready to comply with the ban on Political rallies by the Police.
The National Spokesman of the group, Mr. Godwill Orurakwe said President Goodluck Jonathan had maintained that he did not want any loss of life for any political reasons.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, on Monday placed a ban on rallies in the state.
Mbu, who said the decision was based on the increasing political tension in the state, specifically said the ban affected political rallies.
Before the outright ban, the CP had directed that those holding rallies in the state should apply for permission from the Police.
He also prohibited activities involving the Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement and the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation.
“Accordingly, all public activities involving rallies of Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement, Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation and whatever other names, are hereby banned”.
Mbu warned that the Police would not provide security for any group that henceforth organize rallies.
The CP, however, said that party membership registration would only be allowed based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State described the ban on political rallies as a gang-up between the Police and the State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
The state Chairman, Brother Felix Obuah said the ban on political rallies was targeted at stopping the PDP from taking its campaign to the various local government areas of the state.
“I just believe it (ban on rallies by the Police) is against the PDP. The PDP has not started its rallies and anytime from now, we are planning to embark on our rallies from one local government area to the other.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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