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Rivers East: ‘APC Would’ve Attacked Judiciary’ …We Believe In Judiciary -Wike

Published

8 years ago

August 28, 2017

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) only launches campaign of calumny against the judiciary when they lose cases, but applaud them each time they emerge victorious.
The governor also stated that the outcome of the litigation on the Rivers East Senatorial District Seat has confirmed the alarm he raised that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police were in partnership to rig elections in the state.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting with leaders of Okrika and Ogu-Bolo local government areas at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, Wike said: “Now that we have lost, nobody is saying that the Judiciary is corrupt. They are not saying that the Judiciary is corrupt because they have won.
“Tomorrow, if we win, they will say Judiciary is corrupt. Then they will send security operatives to arrest the judges. Nobody will bother to go now and arrest the judges to find out what happened”.
The governor regretted that when the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen visited the state to flag off the construction of the state Judges Quarters, the APC went to town, claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will procure all judgments at the courts.
He noted: “But now, you will not see them claiming that the judgment was procured. I urge you to continue to have confidence in the Judiciary”.
Wike insisted that police colluded with APC to tender concocted results at the tribunal, which was relied upon to sack Senator George Thompson Sekibo.
He said: “Remember, last year, I raised an alarm that INEC and police were planning to rig the rerun elections. We caught people printing INEC result sheets and reported the matter. Somebody was arrested. They sent the person to Zone 6, Calabar, and granted him bail. Till now, they are yet to complete investigations into that critical matter.
“INEC declared results. All of us know that if elections are held 20 times, Senator George Thompson Sekibo will win. INEC printed their own result sheets, same serial numbers; these people printed their own result sheets with same INEC serial numbers. You ask yourself, how did they get to know INEC serial numbers? Because they could not smuggle in their own result sheets, INEC declared the authentic results.
“Unknown to us, they had gone to connive with the police. That tells you what they want to do in 2019. Thank God, they have alerted us. Instead of them to write INEC to give them the certified true copies of the result sheets, they went to the police. Police are now in custody of INEC results. Police certified their own and gave them”.
The governor said that while INEC authentic results were rejected, that manufactured by the Police High Command was admitted by the tribunal.
He said: “I have no trouble with that, but I thought that the reverse should have been the case. It has opened our eyes ahead of 2019”.
In his remarks, Senator George Thompson Sekibo stated that Wike stood with him all through the struggle, and assured the governor of the support of Okrika people at all times.
He said contrary to insinuations, his loss at the Appeal Court has nothing to do with the so-called Ikwerre agenda.
Sekibo said: “I have been sacrificed and buried, but PDP will come back stronger and better. We shall stand with Governor Wike”.
Also speaking, former minister of transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo thanked Wike for his support for Sen Sekibo.
He said: “The Okirika people are a political force, and they stand behind Wike”.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Amanyanabo of Ogu, King Nicholas Ibiebele Nimenibo, assured the governor of the support of Okrika people in the discharge of his duties.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said the state have not lost confidence in the judiciary despite the outcome of last Thursday’s Court of Appeal judgment in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Andrew Uchendu for Rivers East Senatorial District.
He reiterated his earlier stance that the judiciary is still the hope of the common man hence there was no need for one to criticize the courts when judgments do not favour one.
Wike, who addressed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Okrika and Ogu/Bolo local government areas in Government House, Saturday in Port Harcourt, said they have accepted the tribunal judgment.
The governor urged the constituents from Okrika and Ogu/Bolo to be calm and focused stressing that, ‘we will continue to have confidence in the judiciary.”
He wondered why a police report should supersede result from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as he carpeted the police for compromising the outcome of the elections and frustrating the popular wish of the good people of Rivers East Senatorial District.
Wike criticized the police for raising false alarm while they were responsible for the breach and hiccups witnessed in the December 10th re-run elections.
On his part, Senator George Sekibo thanked the governor for being a pillar of support from the main elections and throughout the two re-run elections.
Sekibo described Wike as a dependable ally, “you are brother…And we won because you stood by us.”
Urging the people of his constituency to be calm, the senator assured that the judgment is not a setback but rather a shot in the arm to ensure that PDP becomes stronger and victorious in future elections.
He assured the governor of his constant support and steadfastness to the vision and goals of the PDP and to his administration.
“I will stand by the governor at all times, come rain, come shine,” Sekibo further declared.

News

Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama

Published

4 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.

According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.

He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.

According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.

He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.

“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.

Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.

“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.

“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.

“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.

“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.

In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.

He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.

While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.

Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.

He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community

Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.

Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.

She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.

Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.

Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.

She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.

By: John Bibor

News

Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants

Published

4 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.

The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.

He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.

The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.

He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.

He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.

Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.

According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.

News

NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

Published

4 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.

Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.

Dr. Ogbuku represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.

He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.

“ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.

when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated

He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.

Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.

In his keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,

Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.

The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.

By: Akujobi Amadi