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RSG, PDP Disagree Over Workers’ Salary Delay

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The Rivers State Government has expressed dismay at the deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts being peddled by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state over the salary status of civil servants. The government said the claim by PDP was meant to undermine the cordial relationship between workers and the Rivers State Government, and by so doing, turn facts and figures upside-down.

The state PDP, had in a statement, said that the Rivers State Government was owing civil servants months salaries, pledging that the incoming government would not owe workers their due salaries and allowances.

While the workers have not been paid their April salaries, a few have been paid March salaries.

The dismissal of the PDP claim was contained in a statement by Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communications in Port Harcourt, Ibim Semenitari, who said the resort to deliberate falsehood by PDP shows mischief.

”We find it ridiculous that PDP and Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike’s media managers show lot of mischief and deliberate distortion of facts. We thought that if they lied during campaigns and electioneering, with election over, they would switch over to basic media style of information sourcing, verification and analysis. The rudimentary step in that is the sourcing and use of data, a critical segment available to even cob reporters”, the statement read in part.

The commissioner, who wondered where the PDP got its information of months of salary owed Rivers State civil servants, said that rather, it is PDP that owes Rivers people the return of its revenue diverted by the Federal Government to other states as well as the millions spent by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to fix federal government roads in the state.

“Governor Chibuike Amaechi has paid civil servants up to the month of March with plans to commence payment for the month of April. Amaechi had committed himself to the welfare of Rivers civil servants these past seven years and had exemplified that by regular payment of salaries in the face of dwindling national revenue” the statement noted.. Rivers State is one of less than five states in the federation that have been able to keep up with salary payments in the face of dwindling federal allocations”, it added.

While apologising on the recent delays in salary payment, Semenitari reiterated Gov. Amaechi’s stand that civil servants must receive their wages for each month. She traced the delay in payment of salaries to collapsing national economy due to PDP’s mismanagement.

“PDP’s mis- management of the national revenue as well as its elevation of corruption to a national religion has been responsible for dwindling federal allocation. In recent times, the Federal Government has had to withhold allocations meant for states, Rivers State being one of such unfortunate states”, she emphasised.

The statement, which accused PDP of crying wolf where there was none, described the statement as diversionary and meant to cover their obvious inadequacies.

“In its fatal admittance that it is approaching May 29 with more liabilities than assets, PDP sold the dummy to unsuspecting Rivers people and friends of the state to create an impression that Amaechi was leaving behind a pile of indebtedness. This is dummy sold ahead to lay foundation for the agony Rivers civil servants will face in their hands.

“By deliberately withholding civil servants’ wages, the party will claim it was because Amaechi had left a pile of debts and that they were sorting it out. This is a complete fallacy as the state’s debt profile is among the lowest in the country”, the statement said. “We will publish our records for Rivers people and the whole world to see”, Semenitari stressed.

“The Amaechi administration has nothing to hide. However, we must put the records straight as to the root cause of PDP’s paranoia. The party’s candidate, who was declared winner of the April 11 governorship election, with his team, is coming to loot the treasury of Rivers State. ”With several thugs hired to commit electoral malfeasances for the PDP – with about 11 ‘elected’ into the state House of Assembly – who must demand their settlement, the state treasury will be sucked dry. To begin to prepare the minds of civil servants who consequentially will be owed months of salary, PDP had to raise the falsehood, “the statement added.

The statement reiterated Amaechi’s commitment to t he wellbeing of civil servants in the state. ”Gov. Amaechi is going to pay all due salaries before he leaves office and hopes that whoever shall have taken over from him then, will follow in this step. Rivers State civil servants, who have been the engine room of Amaechi’s administration, deserve a great deal of respect from PDP which should not hide under any cloak to ridicule them or deny them their due”, Semenitari

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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