Wike Pledges Support For AMAA

The successful hosting of the Africa Movie Academy
Award (AMAA) in the state took the front burner in most of the discourse last week in government circle. This may not be unconnected with the fact that Governor Nyesom Wike braced the harsh economic climate to sell Rivers State to the outside world.
No fewer than five countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa participated in the annual awards aimed at showcasing the best brains and productions in the movie industry.
Governor Wike was upbeat about the awards, as he pledged the state government’s support to the academy, to ensure that movie industry and budding talents from the state exploit the opportunities that abound in the industry.
He said Rivers State has become a darling in hosting national and international events, not only because it’s the oil capital of Nigeria, but because of the abundant human and natural resources it has.
Last week Tuesday and as part of activities to mark the World Blood Donor Day, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo called on the media and the organised public/private sectors to step up awareness campaign on the need for voluntary blood donation to both public and private hospitals beyond the ceremonial day of celebration in the spirit of humanity.
Dr. Harry-Banigo emphasised on the need for proper screening of blood before transfusion as this would go a long way in checking the issues of blood related infections. She further called on eligible donors in the state to take advantage of the day, by donating generously to the State Blood Bank so as to save lives, stressing that blood donation awareness campaign should be a regular exercise by all stakeholders.
On the same Tuesday last week wife of the governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom Wike received a delegation of the British Council led by the Director of Society, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed at her office in Government House.
She used the visit to advocate for a collaboration between the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), the State Ministry of Women Affairs and the Rivers State House of Assembly as a team to work towards eliminating the said harmful practices.
Justice Nyesom Wike hinted that the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the State Ministry of Women Affairs will initiate a convention that will sponsor bills to the Rivers State House of Assembly which will give the needed impetus to eliminate traditional harmful practices against women and violence against the girl child.
The legal tussle over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took centre stage last Thursday when a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Abdullahi Liman heard the parties in the matter.
Justice Liman was informed by the PDP’s legal counsel Oladejo Laminkara, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria that erstwhile National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Modu Sheriff was legally removed from office following the national convention of the party in Port Harcourt in May.
According to Laminkanra, “the FCT High Court presided by Justice A.B Mohammed had in a judgment of 18th May rejected Sheriffs argument that he is PDP chairman until 2018”.
Worried over the labour action of Petrol Tanker Drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Petrol and National Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its effects on the citizen the State Government through the Office of Secretary to the State Government, intervened to broker peace as a way of ending petrol scarcity that hit the state by the weekend.