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
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
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