News
Wike’s Action On Novotel, No Threat To Economy -PDP
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has again said there was no cause for alarm; regarding concerns raised over Governor Nyesom Wike’s action on the revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy of Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The PDP state Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, in a statement signed on his behalf by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said that the governor’s action was not any threat to the state’s economy.
The party disagreed with the claim of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), that the governor, by his action was ‘de-marketing’ Rivers State, explaining that no sensible and responsible government will sit and watch anyone or institution engage in acts or be used in perpetrating acts that threaten the prevailing peace and security in its domain without taking any punitive measures.
The PDP further explained that what all genuine investors and business entrepreneurs desire was a peaceful and conducive environment to operate, which the governor has achieved in the state, adding that allowing any person or group of persons, including corporate organisations, conduct themselves in a manner capable of throwing the state into chaos, was unacceptable.
According to Obuah, “All those carrying out genuine business in the state must do so according to the law, and must resist the attempt by politicians or any individual to use them or their business premises to perpetrate evil deeds and actions that breach the peace of the state.
“We stand by the decision and action of the Governor (Wike), convinced that what took place that fateful Saturday, during the APC fictional congress and what happened there during the re-run legislative elections in the state on December 10, 2016, are what actually would drive investors away, not the revocation of C of O of a business operator that allowed its premises to be used as a den for illegalities, which also constitutes a threat to other business operators in the state and potential ones,” Obuah stressed.
The party therefore, flayed the position of the APC and its collaborators on this issue, describing the party as short-sighted and ignorant of the principles of business development and good governance.
The PDP also described as unfortunate remarks credited to the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, on the matter, in which he described the governor’s action as ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘irresponsible’.
The party regretted that the former commissioner could not hide his quest for wealth, position he is seeking in the APC and mission to blackmail his former principal.
The PDP observed that dealing with a chameleonic man, like Austin Tam-George, who was unstable and speaks from both sides of his mouth, was a heinous task, and therefore called for caution.
The PDP chairman described Tam-George as a treacherous ingrate and double-crosser, who could not be trusted even by his new found bedfellows in APC, wondering how cheap and disappointing his action has presented him in the eyes of the public.
Obuah reaffirmed confidence in the action of the governor on the revocation of C of O of the hotel, and other actions the governor has so far taken in efforts to move the state forward.
The PDP chairman explained that the governor was not power-drunk and does not act like his predecessor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, appealing to all genuine business operators in Rivers State not to be apprehensive over the inciting claims and ill-conceived utterances of the All Progressives Congress and its agents and cohorts.
It further advised them to continue to go about their lawful businesses in the state, assuring them of adequate security and conducive environment.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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