News

APC Member Denied Minority Leader Slo …As RVHA Gets Principal Officers, approves Commissioners

Published

11 years ago

June 5, 2015

L-R: Commandant, 42 Div., Nigerian Army Engineering Corps, Brig.-Gen. Henry Ayamasaowei, GOC. 2 Div., Brig.-Gen. Sanusi Muazu and Corps Commander, Education Corps, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Adebayo, at the 2015 second quarter conference of the Nigeria Army Education Corps in Ibadan, yesterday.

The only member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 8th House of Assembly in Rivers State, Hon. Josiah John Olu was yesterday denied the position of minority leader even as the Speaker, Rt. Hon Ikuinyiowaji Ibani vowed to be fair and ensure justice in all his dealings.

The House, in its second sitting, yesterday, elected principal officers of the House but omitted the office of the minority leader even after the only APC member had protested.

While speaking to the Speaker, Ikuinyiowaji Ibani, said the proceedings are in line with his earlier commitment to be fair and just.

According to him, “I know very well that if you must lead, there must be followers.

“There cannot be leadership without followership. I will try as must as possible to be fair, and will at all times to define what is just and justice.

“The standing order of this assembly is our bible, it means we must follow it, and that is what we have done today’’, he said.

The House had earlier elected Hon Martins Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpor 1 as the leader, while Hon Loolo Demabari, representing Khana 1 was elected deputy leader.

Other officers include, Evans Bapakaye Bipi, representing Ogu/Bolo as whip and Major Jack, representing Akuku-Toru constituency 1 as deputy whip.

But in a swift reaction to what transpired at the floor of the House, Hon Olu said the legislators violated the standing rule.

According to him, “We have a set of rules that contain what we refer to as a standing order. Standing orders is a rule book that governs the operations of the House of Assembly and our activities, and it is very clear in the standing order that where you have two parties, there will be majority leader and minority leader, and today, being the 2nd day of the assembly, the House decided to elect other principal officers, the majority leader, deputy majority leader, whip and deputy whip. All I did was to bring to the attention of the speaker that section 9 of our standing order talks about the majority leader and section 10 talks about the minority leader.

“I represent a party, and also represent an interest. I cannot allow some persons from other parties to represent my party interest. Even though I am just one person, I represent a party, unless they want to discard the standing order’’, noted.

He said, “If the speaker sets a bad precedence, that means tomorrow, posterity will hold us accountable on our actions.

“If we have rules that streamline our business and activities, we should be able to follow them. I tried as much as possible to draw his attention of what I saw as anomalies in the selection of the house leaders. If you noticed when they were voting on what is right, I voted.

“As far as I am concerned, he is not the leader but a majority leader. We have two parties in the 8th Assembly, PDP and APC, and APC is duty-bond to have its leader, which is minority leader, even though he is a lone voice, that is my stand, and I stand by it’’, he said.

Meanwhile, in defence to the House resolutions, the Leader, Hon. Martins Amaewhule noted that every house has a procedure, and the 8th Assembly has a standing order which the House was operating with.

The leader noted that, “it is the standing order that guides how the legislators conduct the affairs of the House,” adding that “what we did today (Thursday) is in line with the standing order.”

According to him, “the speaker set matters that legislators deliberate on at every sitting, the matter we have on the order for deliberation was what we dealt with today, another day, we will have another matter on the paper, and we move on’’.

The House, however, approved the four commissioner-nominees and seven special advisers that the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had sent to the Assembly for approval.

The names included Barrister Emmanuel Chinwe Aguma, Dr Fred Kpakor, Mrs Omini Briggs, and Barrister Emma Okah for screening as commissioners.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.