Politics
RSG Lifts Embargo On Employment
Rivers State Government, last week, lifted ban on employment and subsequently approved the recruitment of indigenes to fill existing vacancies.
Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, who announced this last Wednesday during the 2019 Workers Day celebration at Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt also disclosed that ban on promotion of civil servants has been lifted.
Governor Wike who was represented by his deputy, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the chairman of the state Civil Service Commission has already been directed to conduct interviews and effect the promotion of civil servants to their next salary grade levels.
He said the step is to strengthen the state civil service for more effective service delivery to Rivers people.
The State Government has also commenced the disbursement of the monthly interest free loan to traders and civil servants.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Politics and Strategy, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh who announced this at a media briefing after the State Executive Council meeting held Thursday last week disclosed that the empowerment programme will run on a monthly basis for civil servants in the state and that N200million was earmarked monthly for the scheme.
At the council meeting, the state government says it would prosecute the former Commissioners of Health, and Finance, Dr Samson Parker and Chamberlain Peterside respectively, over alleged squandering of N34.5billion belonging to the state owned Integrated Medical Industries Limited ( String Factory).
The Attorney General of the state, Dr Zaacheus Adango, who stated this in a media briefing after the last council meeting said the Project Manager of the firm, Mr M. Nwokoma would also be prosecuted.
According to him, the council has mandated the Attorney General to pursue the criminal prosecution when the white paper on the report of the commission that investigated the company assets is published.
Also last week under review, Governor Wike hosted his Benue State counterpart, Dr Samuel Ortom , last Thursday.
The two state governors were in a close- door meeting and outcome of the meeting was not made known to newsmen but the said meeting, according to feelers was on the development of the two states.
The Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA) also last week announced the nomination of Governor Wike for its exalted ‘NMA Healthcare Merit Award’.
Chairman of NMA, Rivers State chapter, Dr (Mrs) Obulebra Adebiyi announced this at a congratulatory visit to the governor, Tuesday, in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The NMA boss said that the award is in recognition of the projects and programmes executed by the governor in the healthcare sector.
She said: “ In view of the far reaching impact of your numerous developmental projects in the health sector and by the recognition of NMA Rivers State, you have been nominated by the NMA President, Prof Francis Faduyile, the National Officers Committee and the National Executive Council for the highly esteemed “ NMA Healthcare Merit Award “.
In response, Gov Wike thanked the association for the honour and remarked that the award would spur him to greater service.
Wike announced that the 7 – month entitlements owed House Officers would be settled by his administration and directed that payment of House Officers stipends be placed under the management of state Ministry of Finance.
Governor Wike on Saturday, joined other sympathisers across the nation for the funeral mass of late Chief Frederick Oritseweyinmi Omajolone Ogbe at the St Paul’s Catholic Church Ekuredu Itsekiri in Warrior, Delta State.
Wike who was accompanied by Senateor-elect, Rivers East Senatorial District, George Thompson Sekibo, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Engr Emeka Woke and a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Marcus Nleji , paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased.
Chris Oluoh
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.