Politics
Gov Wike Signs Two Bills Into Law
Activities commenced last week in Government House, Port Harcourt, with the signing of two crucial bills into laws by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The bills were ; the Public Procurement (amendment) Law No.1 of 2021 and Contributory Health Protection Programme Law No.3 of 2020.
At the event which took place at Government House last Monday, Governor Wike said with the signing of the Contributory Health Protection Programme Bill into law, residents and people of the state desiring health insurance could now participate in the scheme.
He also noted that with the amended law on public procurement, government would easily fulfil its contractual obligations and check problem of payment of low per centage of project sums which often led to the demand for contract variation by contractors and the attendant delay of project execution.
Last week also witnessed more inauguration of completed projects as well as flag- off of new projects by the administration of Governor Wike , the Mr Quality Project of Nigeria.
Projects inaugurated last week included 16.2 kilometers Umueze-Umuogba-Umuokpurukpu-Umueke-Umunju-Eberi Road in Omuma Local Government Area, the Pabod Breweries By-Pass Road and Oginigba-Ordinance Link Road at Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt.
Those flagged off were the Trans- Kalabari Road Phase 1 in Degema Local Government Area, Reclamation of 52 hectares of land for the Abonnema and Obonoma towns in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, and the 11.6 Km Omerelu Internal Roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers State Chief Executive who stated that insecurity in the country has not hindered development in the state stressed that his administration has tackled insecurity headlong thereby creating an enabling environment for smooth delivery of quality department projects.
He announced that his administration would reconstruct the Umuakali-Eberi Road in Omuma Local Government Area in appreciation of the remarkable level of loyalty to PDP by the people of the area especially Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, the lawmaker representing Omuma State Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly.
While inaugurating the road project in Omuma, former Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Adolphus Wabara, hailed the Rivers State Governor’s high performance and remarked that the Governor had redefined governance and broken the unfortunate jinx of non-performance associated with second tenure givernors in the country.
According to Senator Wabara, while it is in the habit of second tenure givernors to slow down actions, governor Wike remained unrelenting, working with the same zeal of a Governor in first term. This , he said, stands Wike out as a much sought- after leader who should be consulted in solving critical national issues related to governance.
Rivers State recorded another landmark victory last week as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Hon Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the Federal Government to pay her $1,114,556,610.00, and to also pay the sum of $2,258,411,586.00 to Akwa Ibom State.
This was in relation to production sharing contracts arising from Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract.
Justice Taiwo who delivered the judgement in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/174/2021 filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State against the Attorney General of the Federation, also awarded a post judgement interest of 10 per cent in favour of the plaintiffs.
Another major event in Brick House within the week under review was the approval by the State Executive Council to the offer made by Governor Wike to build, furnish and deliver new campus of Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt to the Council of Legal Education.
Recall that Governor Wike had during inauguration of some projects by of the Rivers State Government at Nigerian Law School, Yenegoa Campus recently, requested that a campus of the school be sited in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. He promised to build a brand new campus within six months, if his request was granted.
Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adango , who briefed newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting held last Saturday at Government House Port Harcourt, explained that one of the conditions demanded by the Council of Legal Education was that the offer made by Rivers State must receive the unambiguous approval of Rivers State Executive Council.
“ I am happy to announce that the Rivers State Executive Council met today and at the end of the Council’s meeting and upon due consideration of the memo presented by the Hon Attorney General, Rivers State Executive Council has formally approved the offer made by the Governor to build, furnish and deliver a brand new campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt to the Council of Legal Education”, Adango said.
He expressed optimism that the new campus will promote legal education and re-establish Rivers State on the map as the centre of legal education in the country.
Also last week, President, Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) , Hajia Hajara Alkali Baba, paid Gov Wike a courtesy visit to thank him, the Government and people of Rivers State for providing succour for the widows of deceased police officers.
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.
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