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Wike Deserves The Sun, Silverbird Awards -Okah

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah has insisted that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike deserves The Sun Governor of the Year 2017 and Silverbird Man of the Year 2017 awards, among others.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the commissioner stated that Wike’s approach to development was distinct, pragmatic and holistic.
“The awards relate to the fulfilment of promises made by a sitting governor to his people during the campaign and those promises are being fulfilled one after the other. The results are there for everyone to see. They are things you touch and see. Nigerians are hearing how Governor Nyesom Wike is transforming the landscape in Rivers State,” he explained.
“Before 2015, there was a near collapse of our infrastructure. Salaries, allowances and pensions were unpaid. There was this general lack of trust on public officers. Governor Nyesom Wike came on board and set the state on a path of transformation,” Okah said.
According to him, “He has shown remarkable leadership. He has promoted oneness and unity amongst Rivers people. He is trying to bridge the gap between the contending political parties to the point where the new mantra is that Rivers people should put Rivers State first. The governor is trying to diffuse political tension. He is trying to open the door for every Rivers man and woman to find expression in the fact that they are Rivers people, irrespective of the political party they belong to.
“Look at what happened the day Senator Magnus Abe held his thanksgiving ceremony together with those other APC colleagues. Look at what happened when the governor went there. It is unprecedented for a governor of another political party to attend an event organised by elected officers from another political party and received that kind of tumultuous ovation from people. It was as if Governor Nyesom Wike is a member of APC or those gathered there that day were members of PDP. You could see the joy and relief”, he noted.
He further said that unlike other of his colleagues who could have not used contractors by their predecessors, Wike was using them because it serves the interest of the state.
“In trying to go about the various abandoned projects that he inherited, Governor Wike chose not to antagonise any of those contractors except a few of them who showed manifest incapacity in discharging their responsibilities.
“So, he adopted the option of not visiting those contractors with any form of hatred or enmity contrary to what used to be in the past. He embraced them and that is why within a very short time, it was easy for a lot of the projects, particularly the road projects to be completed. This is a very strong act of leadership and that is what has helped in rapid completion of the projects that were abandoned”, Okah stressed.
Okah said, “The governor is on his toes 24 hours to inspect the extent of performance and quality of work done on awarded contracts. So, you don’t just come as a contractor collect government’s money and go home and sleep.
“The governor will follow you up to your bedroom and that is one of the reasons why we have been able to record some of these significant achievements in project execution.
“Go to the health sector, some of the hospitals we’ve not been to, are still there for people to see so they will be able to know what we’re talking about when we said that there was a total collapse of the general hospitals in Rivers state. Today, the story is different. Emohua is undergoing renovation. There are hospital projects in Abonnema and Buguma.
“In Degema, we have a zonal hospital. Quite a lot of them are receiving significant attention. I’m sure a lot of Rivers people today will not be in a hurry to forget what the road infrastructure was when we got into office. Look at the Borokiri axis of Rivers State as at 2015; it was like the people who live in that axis had been forgotten completely. Look at the Eneka-Rukpokwu road, Igwuruta- Chokoto road for instance. You can go on and mention all these roads that were commissioned at various points.
“The Andoni-Opobo road is ongoing and the governor has promised that before the end of this year, the Opobo people will drive vehicles to Opobo town.
“Look at schools. Go to Rivers State University. The law faculty is completed; Faculty of Environmental Sciences building is completed; Management Sciences is ongoing, Technical Education is ongoing. Don’t forget for the first time, Rivers State University is having a school of Sciences since it was established in the 80’s. All these are very remarkable”.
“What of the secondary schools. Go to Government Secondary School, Rumuokota, Nyemoni Grammar School, Abonnema, KNC, Buguma. Go to Ogu Town. The secondary school that was brought down by the former administration and abandoned and left Ogu without a secondary school is ongoing now. Quite a lot of schools are receiving attention.UBE schools over 105 of them are receiving facelift and that is coming from a governor and government that truly care.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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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

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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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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