The Ward 6 Non-Indigenes Simplified Movement in Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The group which passed the verdict at a media conference in Woji Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, also endorsed Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo for chairmanship in the forthcoming October 5 local government elections.
The group said that the decision for the confidence vote was based on the Governor’s leadership style and inclusivity.
The non-indigenes particularly commended the Governor for appointing a non indigene, Dr Sam Anya, into the State Executive Council
“We the non indigenes in Ward 6 are moving a vote of confidence on your administration and also declare our unwavering support to your administration until 2027 and beyond.
“Once again, we say thank you for your timely rescue from hunger and your unwavering commitment, to the people “, they said.
The text of the briefing which was read by Lady Adaure Odu, Ward 6 Women Leader and jointly signed by Comrade Chukwudi Udechukwu,Ward 6 Coordinator; Chief Kingsley Orji and Alhaji Baba Musa Ahmed, Leader, Ward 6, also commended Governor Fubara for his projects and donations of relief materials.
According to the group, “the governance lifestyle of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, through the visionary leadership of Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, the CTC Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and Prince Solomon Abel Eke, the Commissioner for Power, we are proud of His Excellency’s life saving intervention, transparency and accountability distribution, ensuring inclusivity and equity”, the group said.
The non-indigenes also endorsed the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for the October 5 Local Government chairmanship election in Rivers State.
While fielding questions from newsmen, Lady Odu said Ambassador Chijioke has demonstrated capacity since his appointment as the caretaker chairman.
According to her, “Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo has proven track records of leadership and community development. He has shown a good progressive governance and he is also committed to empowering his people, indigenes and non-indigenes alike.”
Also speaking, Alhaji Baba Musa Ahmed described Governor Fubara as a detribalised leader, adding that the Hausa community has never had it good like now.
Alhaji Musa, who is a special Assistant to the Obio/Akpor CTC Chairman, said more appointments were already lined up for the Hausa community in the state.
In separate speeches, Comrade Chukwudi Udechukwu and Sir Kingsley Orji commended the Governor for appointing Dr Sam Anya, a non indigene into the Executive Council of the state.
They also pledged to mobilize massive support for Ambassador Ihunwo during the October 5 local government elections.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over “the failure to end the apparently unlawful practice by the National Assembly of fixing its allowances and running costs, and the failure to account for the monthly running costs paid to members.”
Senator Akpabio and Hon. Abbas are sued for themselves and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
According to reports, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently alleged that the lawmakers fix their own salaries and allowances, contrary to the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1289/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to end the apparently unlawful practice of the National Assembly fixing its remuneration and allowances termed as ‘running cost’.”
SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to disclose the exact amount of the monthly running costs being paid to and received by the lawmakers, and the spending details of any such running costs.”
SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to end the alleged practice of paying remuneration and allowances termed as ‘running costs’ into the personal accounts of lawmakers.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The provisions of paragraph N, section 32(d) of the Third Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] clearly make it unlawful for the National Assembly to fix its salaries, allowances and running costs.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “the alleged practice of paying running costs into the personal accounts of lawmakers is a fundamental breach of Rule 713 of the Federal Government Financial Regulations, which provides that ‘public money shall not be paid into a private bank account.’”
According to SERAP, “‘Public function’ means activities in the public interest, not against it. The reports that lawmakers are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs amount to private self-interest or self-dealing. It is also detrimental to the public interest.”
SERAP said, “The constitutional oath of office of lawmakers requires them to ensure transparency and accountability in the exact amounts of salaries, allowances and running costs they receive.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “The allegations that lawmakers are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo, and Ms Blessing Ogwuche, read in part: “Directing and compelling the lawmakers to account for and return any misused or mismanaged running costs they collected would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.
“Nigerians have a right to scrutinize how their lawmakers spend their tax money and the commonwealth. Nigerians also have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers.”
“Ending the reported practice by lawmakers of fixing their salaries, allowances and running costs would improve public confidence in the integrity and honesty of the National Assembly.”
“Constitutional oath of office requires public officials including lawmakers to abstain from all improper acts, such as fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs, that are inconsistent with the public trust.”
“It is a travesty and a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for members of the National Assembly to fix their own salaries, allowances and running costs.”
“Rule 713 of the Federal Government Financial Regulations provides: ‘Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account.’”
“In the Seventh Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution, lawmakers commit to strive to ‘preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution’, [and to] perform their ‘functions honestly, faithfully’, to act ‘always in the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria’.”
“Lawmakers also commit to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Nigeria; and abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.’”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

The traditional Prime Minister of Okoloma-Afam Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Sampson Akaya, has admonished the Rivers South East Senatorial District, comprising Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro and Oyigbo Local Government Areas, to queue behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his revolutionary and aggressive development agenda for the state.
The royal father commended Governor Fubara for performing excellently well in the administration of the State so far and assured of his domain’s unflinching loyalty and support to his (governor’s) dispensation in order to move the state developmentally forward in the years ahead.
Chief Akaya also appealed to Governor Fubara to help the people of Ndoki to construct their internal roads in order to effectively bring communities in the local government area together, both in business, commerce and other profitable ventures, while curtailing some social vices as well.
Meanwhile, the monarch has called on Rivers State Chief Executive to, as a matter of urgent necessity, establish a university in the boundary between Okoloma – Afam community, in Oyigbo Local Government Area and her neighbour, Bai Ogoi community, in Tai Local Government Area to promote peace, unity and stability between the ancient Kingdoms.
Speaking with newsmen recently in his palace at Okoloma – Afam, headquarters of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Chief Akaya said, if established, the university would enhance job creation and facilitate businesses would be provided for the people of these communities and others.
He maintained that the establishment of such an institution would address the age long cry against marginalization and underdevelopment of both the Ndokis and Ogonis, noting that with the presence of such school, land dispute, internal strife, killings and other negative vices would be a thing of the past.
Chief Akaya, the ‘Oyi- Natu- Mba’ of Ndoki land and member, Oyigbo Council of Traditional Rulers’, lamented that these Kingdoms had not featured prominently in pro-people development policies and programmes of successive administrations in the state.
The monarch expressed the hope that, if established, the envisaged university would permanently resolve the lingering wranglings of who owns what landed property at the boundaries between the Ndoki people and Bai Ogoi people.

Bethel Toby