Wike Swears-in Laminkara To Replace Daisy Okocha

Activities to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remem
brance Day dominated most part of programmes in Government House last week.  Though emblem launching and donations towards the programme had commenced last year December the final phase of the annual event came to a climax with a wreath-laying ceremony by Governor Nyesom Wike and other top government officials, on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Isaac Boro Park cenotaph, Port Harcourt.
On Sunday activities to mark the final phase of the Armed Forces Remembrace Day started with a Special Church Service at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Diobu, Governor Wike and other top government functionaries attended the church service.
In his sermon, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey commended Governor Wike for the impact he has made in the state over the past seven months.
The Anglican Bishop used the Church Service to commend men of the armed forces for sacrificing their lives in keeping the country united and in peace.  He said, “what they have done in the North-Eastern part of the country have shown that indeed we have armed forces in Nigeria”.
On his part, Governor Wike underscored the importance of celebrating the heroic deeds of the armed forces.  “For Nigeria to be still united we owe men of the armed forces because they sacrificed for the country”.
Returning to the state on Wednesday, the governor commenced governance activities in earnest with  several meetings aimed at moving the state forward.
On Thursday however, the governor and other top government officials attended Special Church Servcie and valedictory court session in honour of retiring Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daisy Okocha.
After the church service at St. Paul Anglican Cathedral Diobu, a valedictory court session was held at the Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court.  Encomiums were poured on the justice Daisy Okocha who had only spent 11 days as a substantive Chief Judge of the state, she had been Acting Chief Judge from June to December, 2015. Governor Wike extolled her achievements and wishing her a fruitful retirement.
On Friday, the Governor Swore-in a new Acting Chief Judge to replace retired Justice Okocha who bowed out of service same day.
The new Acting Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Laminkara promised to uphold the tenets of the law by ensuring equitable delivery of justice in the state.
Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, the governor proceeded to Isaac Boro Park for the ceremonial wreath laying exercise and 21 gun salute for the fallen heroes.  After the brief ceremony, the governor and other dignitaries returned to Government House where he addressed legionnaires and widows of ex-servicemen.
While addressing the legionnaires, the governor promised to ensure that their welfare and the families of those who lost their lives will receive priority attention.  Most especially he promised to incorporate widows of armed forces personnel to benefit from the N2 billion CBN loan scheme for the state.
On Saturday, a Special announcement was issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Austin Tam-George over activities of some Biafran agitators in the Oyigbo area of the state.
Governor Wike through the statement condemned acts of criminality perpetrated by Biafran agitators, as he directed security agencies to arrest the situation.