News
Rivers ’Guber: I Stand On Zoning – Amaechi
Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has reiterated his stance on zoning the governorship seat next year to areas which have not produced the state Chief Executive.
He called on the people of Ikwerre Ethnic nationality to shelve their ambition to aspire for the governorship of Rivers State as that will be unfair to other groups in the state.
Amaechi, who declared his stance at the weekend at the one year anniversary of the Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel at Abonnema, said, “For me, I will support only zone where we have agreed such candidate will come from, and I hope and pray it will not go to Ikwerre.
“As an Ikwerre mean, whether Ikwerre has population or not, they should bid farewell to the governorship for others who have not gotten. Where the governor will come from I don’t know. I’am not God. I don’t know where the next governor will come from”, Amaechi maintained.
Governor Amaechi, who responded to a speech by Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, who had recalled that there had been a subsisting agreement on rotating the governorship – between the up land and riverine said, he was not aware of such agreement.
The Rivers State Chief Executive, however, said “I was too young, I wasn’t in that meeting. If it’s zoning , I agree with zoning but where it will be zoned, I don’t know”.
Nonetheless, he said that a meeting of all stakeholders will be held to agree on the zone, maintaining that any zone that has produced governor before now is ruled out.
He used the occasion to call on all Kalabari sons and daughters to join in the fight to return their ceded land and oil wells back to the state.
The governor was of the view that any Kalabari son or daughter who refuses to fight against the annexation of Soku oil Wells to Bayelsa is not from the Kingdom.
He added, “we want to see the young men stand up – for their rights. You cannot be a Kalabari man and they take your oil well, and you say they should take it. Then you are not Kalabari man, whether it’s PDP or APC”.
The Chairman of Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) congratulated the Abonnema Monarch, promising that in the next one month, his stool will be elevated after due consultations in the area.
The plan to elevate the stool, Amaechi further disclosed, has been under consideration, stating that adequate consultations has to be done.
“I have almost concluded but we were thinking that if somebody else is made a first class, what happens to the stool of Amanyanabo of Kalabari?”
Earlier, Former Minster of Aviation and Chairman of the occasion, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas had demanded that the stool of Amayanabo of Kalabari be made “classless”, while other traditional stools in the area be re-classified.
On the governorship seat in the state, the Kalabari-born politician said “I’ts now the turn of Riverine Ijaws or the Ogonis”.
He added that “turn-by-turn” rotation of governorship still subsists, recalling that an agreement had been reached by stakeholders some years back on the matter.
Alabo Graham-Doulas lauded Governor Amaechi for his doggedness in getting back the ceded Soku Oil Wells to Bayelsa State, while challenging Kalabari indigenes to lend support and resist the annexation of their territory to neighbouring state.
In the same vein, King Bob-Manuel thanked the governor for his interest to develop the Kalabari Kingdom, most especially the numerous road projects in Akuku-Toru, and pleaded on him to complete them before the end of his tenure.
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi