Politics
Wike Assents To Street Trading Bill
Last week, the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, signed into law, the “Rivers State Street Trading, Illegal Markets and Motor Parks ( Prohibition) Bill No.8 of 2019.
The Governor also gave his accent to two other bills. They are “ Rivers State Healthcare Facilities Registration Bill No.6 of2019, and “Rivers State Environmental Protection and Management Bill No.7 of 2019”.
The bills were signed at the Executive Chamber of the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday when they were presented to the governor by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Governor commended the State lawmakers for passing three bills within the short period of the administration and noted that the bills, particularly the one on street trading would help his administration in its determination restore back the lost ‘ Garden City’ status of Port Harcourt.
He regretted that the state government could not do much in that regard because of the absence of a law to give enforcement impetus but expressed delight that now that the requisite law has been made, his administration would fully enforce it.
“ We are not going to allow the littering of the state capital. In the next few weeks, people will see improvement in Port Harcourt”, the governor said.
He also noted that the state has six mobile courts that would try and sentence offenders and directed the State Attorney-General to officially approach the Chief Judge of the state for appointment of Magistrates for the mobile courts.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi Ibani, said that the three laws are focused on enhancing the living standard of Rivers people and assured continued support of the House to Executive arms in its bid to lift the state ahead of others.
Also last week, the Governor’s big axe fell on the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Blessing Didia and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Magnus Oruwari.
Wike appointed the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Opuenebo B. Owei, as Acting Vice Chancellor of the university.
The sack of the two top officers of the institution came on the heels of a query by the governor to the Vice Chancellor over recent shootings in the institution and death of two undergraduates of the university.
Governor Wike also suspended the ongoing employment exercise in the university and set up a committee to investigate the exercise and to report back to the governor in two weeks time.
In a similar note, Governor Wike also relieved the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Transport, Mr Samuel Eguma, of his appointment. The governor relieved the Permanent Secretary on Friday evening and remarked that the action would act as a deterrent to government officials who spend funds without approval.
Another major event in the week under review was the commissioning of the ALCON Low Voltage Panels Plant by the State Chief Executive.
Represented at the event held last Wednesday by the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, the governor declared the commitment of his administration to work with the private sector to develope the industrial base of the state.
He said: “ The Rivers State Government will cooperate with the private sector to revive our manufacturing sector. Our commitment is to revive the Trans Amadi Industrial Layout.
“ Our ultimate goal is to generate employment opportunities to our youths”.
He urged the Organised Private Sector to form a pressure group to prevail on the Federal Government to revive the two sea ports in Rivers State and pointed out that when once the two ports become functional again, they will take off the unnecessary pressure presently affecting Lagos port and expand national economy.
Another major event in Brick House was an expression of condolences to the Governor and people of Adamawa State by the Brick House landlord over the demise of the father of his Adamawa state counterpart, Alhaji Umaru Badami.
Wike described the late Alhaji Badami as a patriot who served the country diligently and commiserated with the Adamawa state governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintri.
Chris Oluoh
Senator Makarfi’s resignation comes on the heels of the national convention that saw the emergence of the new Chairman of PDP, Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday evening, the former governor said, “Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees may recall that about two months ago I had resigned as Secretary of the Board and posted same on the Board’s WhatsApp platform.
“Mr Chairman, you may also recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a Chairman.”
He added that the principal reason he initially tendered his resignation then “and now, was and is still my belief that the National Chairman of the Party and Secretary of the Board of Trustees should not come from the same geopolitical zone.
“Now that a chairman has emerged from the North West, where I come from, it’s necessary to give him full space to do the needful. Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17th, 2025.”
While commending the BoT Chairman for his support during his tenure as Secretary of the Board, he stressed, “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as Secretary,” adding that, “I also appreciate all Board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as Secretary.”
Meanwhile, Dr Turaki on Monday pledged to ensure that power returns to the Nigerian people, urging the judiciary to uphold the tenets of democracy.
Dr Turaki, while giving his acceptance speech after the swearing-in of new officers at the end of the Elective Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, assured that there will be “no more impunity, no more suppression of the will of Nigerians”.
The chairman appealed to the judiciary to uphold the principles of stare decision, abiding by the decisions of the Supreme Court, and not to “willingly or unwillingly put yourselves in a situation where, rightly or wrongly, it may be assumed, correctly or incorrectly, that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.”
According to him, the new leadership of the party would be open to listening to the yearnings of members, with a view to aligning with their will, declaring that “No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,” adding that “if baboon wants to chop, baboon must be seated to work.”
He noted that the PDP has maintained its original name, motto and logo, unlike the other parties that started with it, making it a recognised brand anywhere in Nigeria.
Mr Agboke, in a statement on Monday, said that conducting party primaries in line with the law was important ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC has fixed August 8, 2026, for the governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Adegoke appealed to all registered political parties in the state to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission’s guidelines and regulations for the conduct of their primaries.
“The commission emphasises the need for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful primary elections that reflect the will of the party members as a panacea for the reduction of pre-election litigations.
“We observed that primary elections have often been a source of pre-election litigation, which can be avoided if parties follow the laid-down procedures and guidelines.
“INEC, therefore, urges all political parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful manner. All aspirants should be given equal opportunities to participate,” he said.
Mr Agboke stated that, in line with the guidelines released by INEC’s national headquarters, the political parties’ primaries for the 2026 governorship election in the state are scheduled to take place between November 24 and December 15.
He said INEC was prepared to provide necessary support and guidance to parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in accordance with the law.
“We call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, to support the commission in its efforts to ensure peaceful and credible party primaries.
“INEC will continue to monitor the activities of political parties and take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law against any party that fails to comply with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi.
The bandits’ attack led to the abduction of 25 female students as well as the reported killing of the vice principal of the school.
Reacting to the mass abduction on Monday, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described the kidnapping as tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.
In a statement by his media aide on Monday, Gov. Yahaya stated that the continued targeting of schools posed a grave threat to the region’s stability and the nation’s educational future.
Gov. Yahaya, on behalf of the northern governors, commiserated with the government and people of Kebbi State, especially the families of the abducted students and those who lost their lives in the attack.
He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the forum’s solidarity and support during this difficult moment.
He said that schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence, warning that continued assaults on educational institutions threatened to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region.
Mr Yahaya expressed deep concern over the trauma the abducted schoolgirls may be facing and called for an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government and security institutions, Gov. Yahaya stated that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the forum.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies in the collective efforts to rid the region of criminality.
-
Politics5 days agoOsun 2026: INEC Challenges Political Parties On Lawful Primaries
-
News4 days ago
Eastern Port Police Boss Promises On Crime-Free Operations
-
Business5 days ago
FG Set To Launch Free National Financial Literacy Training For 100,000 Youths,
-
News5 days ago
ICPC Jails Two Assembly Officials For N4.8m Job Scam
-
Health5 days ago
Lagos Trains Health Workers On Handling SGBV Cases
-
Politics5 days ago
Makarfi Resigns As PDP BoT Secretary
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
FRSC Begins Free Vehicle Safety Checks In A’Ibom
-
Business5 days agoInsecurity, Poor Power Supply Hamper Business Activities – Survey