Featured
Stay Away From Rivers, RSG Tells Amaechi …Assures Readiness For NAFEST …As Wike Berates FG’s Intimidation Of Judiciary
Rivers State Government has advised the Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to stay away from Port Harcourt if he feels the State is unsafe.
Reacting to a statement by the Minister during a thanksgiving church service in honour of the APC guber candidate, Tonye Cole in Port Harcourt, yesterday in which he said Rivers State was unsafe, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr. Emma Okah said Amaechi should show his anger by hosting his party activities, church programmes, birthday parties, etc in Abuja outside the State since he says Rivers State is unsafe.
“Normal people cannot take Amaechi seriously any more because he lives in bitterness. Evidence abound to show that the Rivers State Government and the security agencies are doing their best to secure lives and property in Rivers State and only a deluded or mischievous mind denies this fact” Okah said
Condemning the reckless manner Amaechi talks, Okah said that in normal climes, a former governor and a serving Minister qualifies to be a statesman but the case of Amaechi is a harvest of shame as he maliciously discredits everything the Rivers State Government is doing to develop the State and provide security for the people.
“Amaechi needs to know that any failure of security under our democracy where the Governor has played his role is an indictment on the Nigerian Police and the security agencies who are under the control of the Federal Government and Amaechi should ask the heads of security agencies he posts to the State why there are lapses if any, he said, noting that Rivers State Government will not join him in the journey to perdition by condemning the hard working security agencies.
“Instead of Amaechi to empathise with those who sadly lost their loved ones, he was spitting on the graves of the deceased and mocking them because he knows he is seeking political mileage with the blood of the innocent and has not supported the State to fight crime since he became a Minister.
Rather than allow security agencies to do their work unhindered, Amaechi has continued to politicise the security architecture to achieve only political ends since his stooge lost the guber elections in 2015.
He must explain to Nigerians why security challenges still exist in all states in the country. Are those Governors also not doing enough or should that also not be the reason they and the President should lose elections? Okah asked, noting that even the APC-led Federal Government has not been able to address all security challenges in Nigeria despite their superior war chest, resources and imprimatur.
On the issue of people leaving the State, Okah said Rivers State is the leading investment destination in Nigeria and dismissed Amaechi as blowing hot air, talking without facts and statistics.
“Amaechi should explain why over 12 million Nigerians lost their jobs since 2015. Is he also alerting Nigerians that his boss is inefficient as President? Okah queried.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government says she is ready to host thousands of delegates from the various states of the Federation and Abuja as all arrangements are in place to ensure a successful National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST 2018) in Rivers State.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr Emma Okah says Governor Nyesom Wike has provided the needed support, facilities and all logistics to ensure a smooth and remarkable festival.
According to the commissioner, the Governor has renovated hostels in Rivers State University to accommodate the delegates while efforts have been raised to ensure adequate transportation, security, venues, etc to make the festival one of the best in the history of NAFEST.
He urged the people of Rivers State especially those in the hospitality, food, leisure, culture, arts, transport and entertainment industry to put in their best and ensure the satisfaction of visitors and delegates and protect the image of the State.
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has berated the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government for intimidating the judiciary through unfounded allegations and trumped up charges.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, during a courtesy visit by Class 1984 of the Nigerian Law School, Wike said the illegal actions of the APC Federal Government have made it impossible for the dispensation of justice in the country.
He said: “Where the country is heading to, there is little hope. The judiciary has been so intimidated. It is unfortunate that the Nigeria Bar Association buckled when it mattered most.
“Today, it is most difficult for any judge to be courageous to write fearless judgments. When they do, the security agencies will claim they saw money in the account of the judge”.
He said lawyers and other Nigerians should work towards the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.
“We must do everything to ensure that we have a country. If there is no democracy, we won’t have a way forward.
“Time has come when we must rise up and speak up against the failures of this government”, he said.
The First Vice President of the Nigerian Law School Class 1984, Bukhari Bello (SAN) commended the Rivers State Governor for his investments in the development of Justice sector infrastructure.
He urged other states to emulate Rivers State Government in the construction of befitting quarters for judges.
Bello also praised the governor for quality projects across the state, especially the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park.
“Highpoint of the visit was the inspection of the Judges’ Quarters.
Similarly, the Judiciary of Rivers State has been re-dedicated to God for greater service to humanity in the vineyard of Justice.
The re-dedication of the Rivers State Judiciary took place, last Friday, at the State Ecumenical Centre as part of the opening of the 2017/2018 Legal Year.
The re-dedication service had in attendance, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the State Executive Council, state lawmakers, the Bench and the Bar.
The wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike was also present.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike took the first lesson for the re-dedication service from Joshua Chapter 1, Versus 1 to 18 while the Chief of Rivers State, Justice Adama Inyie Iyaye-Lamikanra read the second lesson.
In his sermon, Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt Rev Innocent Ordu said that justice was a divine service.
The cleric said that Justice is a divine service which requires that those in charge of the justice system to adhere to the tenets of the law.
Ordu said: “Justice is relevant for the promotion of social order. Judgment is necessary”.
The actual re-dedication witnessed the filing out by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Lamikanra; the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christiana Gabriel-Nwankwo; judges of the High Court and Customary Court of Appeal, the chief registrar and secretary, State Judicial Service Commission and deputy chief registrars for prayers by the cleric.
On behalf of the Rivers State Judiciary, Chief of Rivers State, Justice Iyaye-Lamikanra declared: “Our Father in Christ, I present ourselves representing the entire Rivers State Judiciary to be re-dedicated to God for the 2017/2018 Legal Year and for prayers of the church.
Selected re-dedication hymns were rendered all through the service, backed by the Archbishop of Anglican of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev Ignatius Kattey and Rev Monsignor Pius Kii conducting the re-dedication process.
The judicial officers publicly made pledges committing themselves to the delivery of justice.
Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of his administration’s commitment to supporting and strengthening the scheme in the State.
Fubara gave the assurance last Friday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area in the State, during the swearing-in ceremony of 2026 Batch B Stream II orientation course.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Promise Oguzie, the governor said the State Government would remain intentional in providing the necessary support to improve the NYSC scheme and enhance the experiences of corps members deployed to the state.
He charged the corps members to be role models and quality nation-builders in their service to the good people of Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria at large.
“I charge you to be exemplary, dedicated and committed in all you do. Take full advantage of all the camp programmes and activities to enrich yourselves”, he said.
In his welcome address, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Rivers State, Mr. Moses Oleghe, urged corps members to see their deployment to Rivers State as a “veritable opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the growth of the State in particular and Nigeria at large.”
He further charged them to serve with all sense of “integrity, discipline, and the fear of God, especially when they will be engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff that will conduct the 2027 general elections.”
A total of 3,584 corps members composed of 1,421 males and 2,163 females were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who was represented by Justice Godspower Aguma.
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders for the nation to move in the right direction and make meaningful progress.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor