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Jonathan Admits Not Developing Rivers …Rally, A Waste Of Time -APC
President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, admitted the criticisms by the Rivers State Governor and Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the execution of projects in Rivers State.
The President, however, said that he took Amaechi’s criticism as a challenge to do ‘something’ for his people in Rivers and Bayelsa states, if elected for a second term.
President Jonathan, who was speaking at his party’s presidential campaign rally held at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, said he had not allocated more developments to his people so as not to be portrayed as an ethnic leader.
He also said that his resolve to ensure equal distribution of projects across the country was an indication that he is an honest and selfless leader who meant well for the country.
It will recalled that Governor Amaechi had at his 7th year Anniversary celebration and the APC Presidential campaign rally held at the same venue, criticised President Jonathan for not doing anything for Rivers people since he became president even though the president recorded the highest votes in the state in the 2011 presidential election.
According to him, Amaechi’s criticism is a good news, that shows the rest of the country that he is honest and transparent, adding that if he had concentrated development in the South-South states, Amaechi himself would have exposed him to the world, as a selfish leader.
“I have been a part and parcel of Rivers State, so if the DG said I concentrated development in other states and left the South-South, it is good news. It shows that I am an honest and transparent man.
“And if I have concentrated on developing the South South states, opponents would have been the ones to expose me to the rest of the world. But that shows clearly that we meant well for this country”, President Jonathan explained.
President Jonathan, who arrived the stadium from Ondo State at about 4.00pm, commended the PDP supporters for turning out in large number to support him and the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state, Barr. Nyesom Wike, saying the large turn-out showed that his re-election and that of Wike is already settled in the state.
He challenged Rivers people to reclaim the state from the APC by voting for PDP, promising that the state will have indelible print of developments as soon as PDP takes over power.
“What I will assure you is that PDP will surely win in Rivers and all the South-South states, you should work for us, vote for me and Sambo, and on February 28, vote for Wike and Ipalibo, definitely we must leave indelible print in Rivers State”, he said.
Presenting the party’s flag to the state gubernatorial candidate, Barr. Nyesom Wike, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, urged all party faithful, including the aggrieved ones to work with Wike to deliver the party in the next month’s elections.
He promised all those who work for the PDP a place, if the party wins.
However, some supporters of the party, believed to be loyalists of the 16 aggrieved governorship aspirants of the party, walked out of the rally venue, when the party’s National Chairman, Mua’zu was presenting the flag to Barr. Wike as the governorship candidate of the party.
One of the PDP supporters, who gave his name as Adline Briggs from Buguma said, Buguma people would only vote for President Jonathan to come back, and any other governorship candidate from Riverine.
Also speaking with newsmen, one of the party aggrieved governorship aspirants, Dumo Lulu-Briggs urged Rivers people to vote for President Jonathan while he reserved comments on governorship race in the state.
Meanwhile the Presidential re-election campaign rally in Rivers State by President Goodluck Jonathan has been described as a waste of time and an embarrassment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reacting to the rally held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), said in a statement yesterday that the poor attendance only serves to confirm the unpopularity of President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, while the Federal Government merely ended up confirming APC’s claim that the President has done nothing to deserve the votes of Rivers people in the February 14 presidential election.
“To say that President Jonathan and his PDP wasted their time in coming to Rivers State to campaign is to state the obvious. The half-empty stadium despite the renting of supporters from Bayelsa, Delta, Abia and Akwa Ibom states, speaks volumes about Jonathan’s unpopularity among our people,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said.
Ikanya said the party was happy that Jonathan, during the failed rally, personally confirmed that he has done nothing for Rivers State and her people as evidenced by his monumental neglect of the state.
Rivers APC told the President to stop dreaming of re-election as it will never happen.
The party said: “We want to assure you, Mr. President, that you will never be re-elected because you have failed woefully, and do not deserve any re-election. After all that Rivers State and her people did for you, you could be so mean not to site one single project in Rivers State. We have no reason whatsoever to recommend you to any section of this country for re-election.
“It is a pity that out of all the states President Jonathan has visited, it is only in Rivers that he could not name a single development project he initiated, not to talk of executing. We can now better understand Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who has, at various fora, challenged President Jonathan to mention one single development project he has brought to Rivers State.”
Rivers APC vowed to intensify campaigns to ensure that both President Jonathan and the state PDP gubernatorial candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, do not get up to 10 per cent of votes to be cast in Rivers during the February polls.
He congratulated Rivers people for staying at home and allowing Mr. President to address a half-empty stadium, thereby telling him and the PDP in unmistakable terms that Rivers State is fully and squarely an APC state.
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Our Legacy’ll Leave Lasting Impression On Rivers People -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
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We’re Determined To Leave Legacy Of Quality Education -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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Fubara, Others Eulogise Rivers First Lady’s Mother
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and key stakeholders of the State on Wednesday paid glowing tributes at the Service of Songs held in honour of late Mrs Adeline Jaja, mother of the wife of the Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara described his late mother-in-law as a great and visionary woman who lived on truth and conviction in what she believes.
“Mama was a great woman. She wasn’t a materialistic person. When she believes in you, she’ll be all out for you. She stood for me. I feel pained that, like my own mother, she left at this moment.
”Mama believed so much in God, and the wonders of God. I thank everyone, particularly the Church. On behalf of the bereaved family, we will support the Church to immortalise her name,” the Governor said.
In his homily, Vicar of the Church, Ven. A. A. Ijon-Ama, who spoke on the gains of death, said physical departure from earth was not an ultimate end but an opening for higher and permanent gain and perfection.
He pointed out that when a man has a good relationship with God, he stands to gain more in death.
Ven. Ijon-Ama described late Mrs. Adeline Jaja as a devout Christian, who exuded deep sense of hospitality, and endowed with accommodating spirit, noting that she will be greatly missed by all.
The Vicar, who prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Adeline Jaja, also solicited for Divine fortitude for the family to bear the great loss, and called for the immortalisation of the deceased to keep her good legacies alive.
Some family members, who spoke at the Service of Songs, extolled the virtues of the deceased, describing her as “a great community leader, counsellor, peace maker, and caring mother, who provided for the needy, and participated actively in Church activities.
Highlights of the event were special prayers for the bereaved family, conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu; remarks by key family members, choir ministration, among others.
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