Politics
RSG Flags Off Three New Campuses Of RSU
Rivers State Government , last week, flagged off three new campuses of the state-owned university, amongst other critical projects in the state.
The are ; the Emohua Campus, the Etche Campus and the Ahoada Campus. At the official flag – off of the Emohua Campus, last Monday, Governor Wike disclosed the intention of his administration to also develop the Ogoni Campus of the university.
The Governor who noted that establishing more new universities was not the best approach to solve the problems associated with higher education said more concern should be on how more funds should be committed to the existing universities to enable them to effectively train the manpower needed in the country.
“ Why I cannot build more universities is not because I don’t have where to build them. But it is to have the money to fund the universities. The ones we have, we have not been able to fund them”, Governor Wike said.
Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Ndowa Lale flagged – off the Emohua Campus, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Don Baridam officially flagged -off the Etche Campus last Tuesday, while former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka Flagged off the Ahoada Campus of the state university.
Performing the flag-off of the Etche Campus, Prof. Don Baridam said Governor Wike was spreading development using siting of campuses of the state university in other local government areas.
The move , he said , would solve the usual complaint of over-crowding of classrooms, increase the carrying capacity of the institution as well as check the challenge of inadequate hostel accommodation amongst others.
The Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okugbule, said the Senate and Council of the University approved that Faculty of Agriculture be located in the Etche Campus in cognition of the acknowledged agrarian economy of Etche as the famous Food Basket of the state.
Last Saturday, the state government also inaugurated the Senate Building of the University and also performed foundation stone laying for the construction of the College of Medical Sciences comprising Faculties of Basic Clinical Sciences, Clinical Science, and Pathology.
The Governor further announced the award of full scholarship for all the 55 students already admitted into the institution. According to him, the scholarship covers the entire period of the programme .
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, who laid the foundation for the construction of the buildings, said under Governor Wike’s administration, the health sector had received unprecedented attention geared toward the sustainable development goal.
Also within the week under review, the state Chief Executive flagged off two hostel blocks (450 bed spaces each ) and a 1500 capacity auditorium being constructed by the Rivers State Government at the Yenegoa Campus of the Nigerian Law School .
The Rivers State Governor who further requested for the approval of the Federal Government for the establishment of a campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt said the existing six campuses of the school across the country can only admit 6,000 out of the 10,000 applicants that seek legal education every year.
He stated that the state government was willing to provide the basic infrastructure required in establishing another law school within six months in order to accommodate more students desiring legal education in the country.
Also last week in Brick House, Governor Wike bagged the Blueprint Newspaper’s Governor of the year Award.
At the event which took place at the Congress Hall , Trsnscorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja, former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was named Icon of Democracy in Africa while eleven other governors also received different awards.
The Chairman/CEO of Blueprint Newspapers Limited… described Gov Wike as a development strategist who has used Infrastructural revolution, healthcare, education, agriculture and sports to honoure his social contract with Rivers people.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, commended the management of Blueprint Newspapers for recognising the giant strides of the Rivers State Governor, noting that Gov Wike has within the last six years demonstrated that he is a visionary leader and prudent manager of resources.
“ When his contemporaries are complaining of economic downturn, Gov Wike is commissioning projects and flagging off new ones”, Nsirim said.
Also last week, the state government inaugurated and handed over National Industrial Court Judges in Port Harcourt.
By: 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.