Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (right) being welcomed by Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, during his condolence visit to the state over the death of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, last Wednesday. Photo: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has hailed the award to the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as an Associate Fellow of the United Nations Institute for Training and  Research (UNITAR), Geneva, Switzerland.
“This award of Associate Fellow of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), awarded on Governor Amaechi in Geneva, Switzerland, on  June 3, 2014, is no doubt well deserved in view of his monumental achievements in the educational sector since his assumption of office as governor some seven years ago. It is instructive that this great recognition is coming hot on the heels of the conferment of the status of World Book Capital on the state capital, Port Harcourt,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
The party noted that the Amaechi administration has so far revolutionised the education sector in the state to the extent that Rivers is the best state in Nigeria education-wise with 21st century educational facilities, the type of which can only be found in the advanced countries of the world.
“In addition, the Amaechi administration has promoted overall United Nations activities in the South-South geo-political zone through the provision of  outstanding facilities that can house over 15 UN agencies in Port Harcourt. As a result, there are five United Nations agencies in Rivers State at the moment and more are expected to follow in due course,” Rivers APC stated.
“We understand that previous recipients of this coveted Fellowship have been mainly drawn from the pool of Professors Emeritus with huge academic records in research in global governance, security, social justice, development, and environmental preservation. This, therefore, highlights the significance of this very award – one in a long list of honours that speak eloquently about the unmatched track record of the Amaechi administration,” the statement added.
The party thanked Governor Amaechi for placing Rivers prominently on the world map through his great administrative acumen, and expressed the hope that he would not relent as his administration enters the home stretch.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has called for the dismissal of the controversial FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu who on Monday banned  peaceful protests by the Oby Ezekwesili-led #BringBackOurGirls coalition, only to be over-ruled by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar on Tuesday.
Rivers APC described Mbu’s action as “the height of embarrassment to the Nigeria Police,” and demanded that “Mr Mbu should be shown the way out of the force now before he drags the name of the force deeper into the mud.”
Rivers APC, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said that “Mr. Mbu obviously did not clear with his superior, the IGP, a disgraceful action that illustrates his disdain for good order, decorum and constituted authority.
“How on earth could  Mbu outlaw the #BringBackOurGirls peaceful rallies aimed at awakening President Jonathan Goodluck and his Presidency from their slumber on the security challenges and the shame arising from the kidnap of over 250 of our girls and our future mothers by the evil-minded Boko Haram? Does it mean that Mbu does not know that peaceful protest is a right guaranteed all Nigerians by the country’s Constitution?” Rivers APC asked.
The party recalled the ordeal of Rivers State in the hands of  Mbu before his redeployment to the FCT following the endless outcry of Rivers people.
According to the party, “When we were shouting about the inimical acts of Mbu, nobody paid any attention to the nuisance this man had constituted himself but as soldiers of democracy that we are, we continued to endure him until God, in His wisdom touched the hearts of our tormentors to further expose him to the entire world by posting him to Abuja after being rejected by various state governments.
“To us in Rivers State APC, Mbu is a nuisance, anti-democrat, unprofessional and not expected to parade himself within a democratic set-up.
“ Joseph Mbu, who had been lying low since he was posted out of Rivers State after holding the entire state to ransom based on his undemocratic acts and unprofessional policing, came back to life, once more exhibiting his hatred for normalcy and civilisation by ordering the stoppage of peaceful rallies in Abuja.
“ Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, brought back life into  Joseph Mbu when he ignorantly termed the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners APC members. On hearing that these campaigners may be APC members and feeling that he was still in Rivers State, Mbu promptly and illegally announced the banning of the rallies,” the Party noted.
“As much as we commend the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, for acting swiftly in  reversing the ill-advised ban, we wish to urge the Police Service Commission to consider the shame and embarrassment which this man has brought to the entire nation, and  the Police in particular, and heed our wise counsel to either dismiss  Mbu or repost him to Borno State to tackle the menace of Boko Haram since he hates to see peace in any environment where he operates,” the APC added.