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Tam-George Tackles Rivers APC …As PDP Calls For Amaechi’s Job
The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to yet another scurrilous statement by the Rivers State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that Governor Nyesom Wike had a hand in the judicial scandals that have engulfed Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport.
Governor Wike categorically denies any role in Amaechi’s disgraceful plight.
Governor Wike had refrained from making public comments on this subject, because the people of Rivers State feel sadly vindicated by these latest scandals swirling around the Transport Minister.
In the run up to his screening by the Senate for the post of Minister in the federal cabinet in 2015, Nigerians were warned about Amaechi’s egregious antecedents in public office.
As governor of Rivers State, Amaechi left a shameful record of waste and dysfunction. His thoughtless policies and mismanagement of public funds literally broke the economic spine of Rivers State.
After his tenure in Rivers State, Amaechi was indicted for stealing public funds by a court-approved panel of inquiry.
Amaechi has of course always protested his innocence. But even chieftains of his party, the APC, including serving governors, have publicly praised Amaechi for bankrolling the party’s presidential campaigns in the 2015 general elections, and for sponsoring candidates in that election.
Amaechi’s financial contributions to the APC, estimated to be in billions of Naira, constitute serious financial crime against the people of Rivers State.
The allegations made against the Transport Minister by the justices of the court are therefore hardly surprising, because the scandals fall within a pattern of his moral turpitude in public life.
Rather than blame others for Amaechi’s woes, Nigerians expect the APC to ask the Minister to step down from office, in order to allow for a dispassionate inquiry into the serious allegations against him.
All the federal anti-corruption agencies have so far treated the serious allegations against Rt Hon Amaechi with the moral timidity of Lucifer’s wife.
Meanwhile, The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that for President Muhammadu Buhari to convince the nation that he is fighting corruption, the state’s former governor and current Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi, must be arrested and prosecuted over corruption charges.
The government spoke in reaction to the allegations made by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the effect that Wike and some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) big wigs, were the ones who asked some judges to implicate Amaechi.
It would be recalled that the APC Chairman in the state, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, had accused Wike, former Akwa Ibom State governor and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, Incumbent Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmmanuel, and Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, of conspiring to allegedly tell judges to frame up Amaechi in the judiciary corruption scandal.
Two of the Supreme Court judges, John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, whose homes were raided by the operatives of the Directorate of State Service (DSS), had fingered Amaechi, as being responsible for their travails, for allegedly refusing to yield to his (Ameachi) bribe offer, for the purpose of influencing judgments, in two states, in favour of the APC.
Reacting to Ikanya’s statement, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, said, “the attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to yet another scurrilous statement by the Rivers State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that Governor Nyesom Wike had a hand in the judicial scandals that have engulfed Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transport.
“Governor Wike had refrained from making public comments on this subject, because the people of Rivers State feel sadly vindicated by these latest scandals swirling around the transport minister. But all the federal anti-corruption agencies have so far treated the serious allegations against Amaechi with the moral timidity of Lucifer’s wife.
“In the run up to his screening by the Senate for the post of a minister in the federal cabinet in 2015, Nigerians were warned about Amaechi’s egregious antecedents in public office.
“As governor of Rivers State, Amaechi left a shameful record of waste and dysfunction. His thoughtless policies and mismanagement of public funds literally broke the economic spine of Rivers State.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to emulate the judiciary by asking ministers accused of corruption to step aside for proper investigation.
The party made the call in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, at the weekend in Abuja.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had last Thursday announced its decision to suspend justices facing corruption charges.
The justices are Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Mohammed Tsamiya, and Kano State High Court Judge, Justice Kabiru Auta.
Others are Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Justice I. A. Umezulike, former chief judge of Enugu State, and Mu’azu Pindiga of Federal High Court, Gombe.
The PDP publicity secretary said that Justices Ngwuta and Okoro had alleged that they were the targets of a witch-hunt because they refused offers of inducement and bribes from two ministers.
They had named the ministers as those of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
He said the ministers allegedly tried to offer bribe to the judges to subvert the course of justice in appeals against the decisions of lower courts in election petitions in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti and Rivers.
“In order to allow for a fair and independent investigation, it is incumbent on President Muhammadu Buhari to ask these ministers to step aside pending the conclusion of investigation into the allegations.
“The judiciary has set a very good example in its quest to fight corruption,” Adeyeye said.
“It has proven that it is ready to reform itself, and we commend the NJC for taking this bold step.
“Likewise, we call on the administration of the president to emulate the NJC,’’ he said, adding that anything less would confirm the belief that the administration considered itself as “above the law’’.
Adeyeye added that it would be a wrong signal, if the ministers were retained in the face of the serious allegations against them.
According to him, if such action is not taken, it will imply that the entire judicial corruption saga was a deliberate attempt to blackmail that arm of government.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.