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Join Us To Tackle Insecurity, Amaechi Tells Journalists
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr Godknows Igali; Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil and Vice President Namadi Sambo, at a meeting on Power in Abuja, yesterday.
Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has appealed to journalists to join his administration in fighting crime and insecurity in the state.
He said journalists could do that by standing on the side of truth against the sponsors and perpetrators of crime and insecurity in the state.
Amaechi spoke Wednesday at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new secretariat of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt, which his administration is building.
He recalled that crime and insecurity resurfaced in the state when the former state police commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu was deployed to the state.
Mbu, now out of the state, was believed to have provided the breeding ground for sponsors of insecurity in the state.
Amaechi said: “Mr. President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, this state was very quiet and calm until they removed the commissioner of police and brought (Mbu Joseph) Mbu. Not only did they bring Mbu, they brought the criminals back to the streets. They bought them T-shirts to demonstrate but they have forgotten that once you bring them out, you can’t send them back unless you have a very strong commissioner of police who will send them back.
“Immediately they did that, we have since been suffering from kidnapping. As I am talking to you now, nobody can account for where Akas Baba (kidnapped Cool/Wazobia radio presenter) is. I’ve called for an emergency security meeting so that we look at it.”
“So, the same journalists that are seated here that are my friends have not been writing about the fact that if they did not bring out these criminals, we have had peace.
“The same journalists that are seated here write about them and support them for governorship and other election. You can’t bring people that will kill you and you support the people, you can’t”.
He said those who committed crime and were chased away from the state by the police were now back.
“Today, those same people are back into town and they are driving, supported by those people who are desperate to acquire power and our journalists are supporting them.
“When I say journalists, I’m not saying all of you but those people who do support them, what are they? They are journalists, so I have the right to use the word journalist. The journalists must work with us to send these criminals back because you may think that today is Akas (Baba), tomorrow it may be you.
“But I have the responsibility to protect you, the instruments to protect you is what they have taken away from us and you are not fighting back. If you don’t fight back, they will come after you”, he noted.
After performing the ground-breaking for the new NUJ secretariat, Governor Amaechi said he had released all the funds needed for the early completion of the secretariat complex.
He urged the contractor handling the project to speed up work and finish the secretariat complex in a few months’ time.
He said the state NUJ leadership would need to introduce training programmes at the complex to sharpen the capacities of practising journalists to make more meaningful contributions and urged them to use the facility for everyone’s benefit.
Also speaking, the state commissioner for information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari said journalists in the state were grateful to the governor for fulfilling his promise to build a new secretariat complex for the NUJ.
She said Amaechi’s administration recognizes the important roles played by journalists that informed his decision to build the new secretariat complex for the journalists.
“This particular project underscores the importance the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi attaches to contributions of the fourth estate of the realm in nation building,” she said.
Also at the event were the national presidents of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba and RATTAWU, Dr. Abel Yemisi Bamgbose and a representative of president of Nigeria Guild of Editors among others.
National President of the NUJ, Mohammed Gbara thanked Governor Amaechi for choosing to build NUJ secretariat in the state.
“I know that His Excellency (Amaechi) has a very high taste in terms of projects, and I want to believe that this project we are about to commence today will tally with the aspiration and the vision of His Excellency. I therefore want to thank you most sincerely for this, and I want to assure you that the NUJ will ever remain grateful to you for being kind enough to have this structure in Rivers State”.
The state Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Opaka Dokubo also expressed appreciation on behalf of journalists in the state to Governor Amaechi for the kind gesture.
He said the press centre would be used to serve humanity and strengthen democracy across the country.
The new state NUJ secretariat complex will have an email library, conference halls, accommodation facilities, among others.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene