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Dickson, S’ South, A-Gs, NDDC Condole Wike Over Aguma’s Death …Say Passage Unquantifiable Loss
The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has commiserated with the government and people of Rivers State over the passage of the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma (SAN).
Dickson said the news of the death of the Rivers State Attorney-General was shocking.
The Bayelsa State governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Kemela Okara, prayed God to grant the people of Rivers State the strength to bear the loss.
He said that the affinity between the people of Rivers and Bayelsa states was such that what affects one, affects the other.
The Bayelsa State governor assured the Rivers State Government that his state would participate in the burial of the late Attorney General of Rivers State.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike thanked the government and people of Bayelsa State for commiserating with the state over the death of Attorney General of Rivers State.
He also commiserated with the governor of Bayelsa State over the death of his mother.
Wike said though he has expressed his condolences to the Bayelsa State governor over the death of his mother, the Rivers State Government would visit the state for an official condolence.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a condolence letter to the Rivers State governor by the Chief of Staff to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Talford Ongolo.
Similarly, the South-South Forum of Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice has declared the death of the late Attorney-General of Rivers State, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) was an unquantifiable loss to the Niger Delta.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday, Secretary of the Forum and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko said that the news of the demise of late Aguma broke like an enemy bomb on their WhatsApp group.
He said: “His death was incomprehensible and inexplicable. He was fearless and believed in responsibilities. Aguma earned the respect of all of us.
“He was a strong believer in the fight for Justice in the Niger Delta. The demise of Aguma is an unquantifiable loss”.
The secretary of the forum stated that with the passage of Aguma, the region has lost a vocal and credible voice.
Also speaking, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Kemeasuode Wodu said as chairman of the forum, Aguma provided quality leadership that enhanced justice sector performance in the South-South.
He said: “We received the news of his death with sadness. He led us very well. Personally, I had the privilege of learning from Aguma.
“He was very expressive, correcting younger lawyers when they go wrong. He was quite bold and courageous. He has left behind a very good record of service and achievements”.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike noted that the forum has been central to the struggle for justice for the region.
He said: “Aguma’s death is a loss to the people of the region. We lost a very committed, loyal and intelligent lawyer. It was at the mortuary that I saw that really he was gone.
“With what we are passing through now, we require people like Aguma. But God knows the best”.
Wike said that the people and Government of Rivers State would honour the late Attorney-General, hence he would receive a state burial.
He noted that “his contributions are greater than his age”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has described the late Attorney-General of Rivers State as a thoroughbred professional who contributed to the development of the Niger Delta region.
He spoke, yesterday, when he led the Board and Management of the NDDC on a condolence visit to the Government House, Port Harcourt.
He was accompanied by the Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere and other executive directors.
He said: “The late Attorney-General of Rivers State was a professional to the core with very deep insights.
“As a commission, we share in your grief. His death is a sad loss for the Niger Delta region because Aguma was an outstanding legal practitioner from the region”.
The NDDC prayed God to grant the people of Rivers State the fortitude to bear the great loss.
“We pray he finds peace in the hands of his maker. We can only take solace in the quality of life that Aguma lived while on earth “, Ndoma-Egba said.
The former Senate leader said Aguma was not just a friend, but a brother.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike thanked the Board and Management of the NDDC for their condolence visit.
He described the loss of the Attorney-General of Rivers State as unfortunate, pointing out that he lived a quality life.
“We thank God for the quality of life that Aguma lived while on earth. We urge the NDDC to participate in his funeral “,Wike said.
The Chairman of the Board of the NDDC, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and the Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere later signed the condolence register in front of the Executive Council Chamber of Government House, Port Harcourt.
Also, yesterday, Investments and Securities Tribunal, Abuja paid a condolence visit on Wike over the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State.
Chairman, Investments and Securities Tribunal, Abuja, Mr Siaka Isaiah Idoko-Akoh, said that the late Attorney-General of Rivers State was a bridge between the state government and other agencies operating in the state.
He said the Investments and Securities Tribunal, Abuja had fond memories of their professional interactions with the late Attorney-General of Rivers State while they worked towards establishing their presence in the state.
While thanking the leadership of the Investments and Securities Tribunal for the condolence visit, Wike said that the death of late Attorney-General of Rivers State came as a shock to the state.
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
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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