News
Nsirim, Nwuke Broker Peace In Rivers NUJ …Parties Agree To Hold Election, ‘Morrow
The various factions in the lingering conflict over the 2021 7th Triennial Delegates’ Conference of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), last Friday, resolved to sink their differences and allow the conference billed to produce elected officers for the union to hold tomorrow.
The peace meeting held at the instance of the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, in his office, in Port Harcourt, also resolved to allow peace reign and that the election of officers of the union scheduled for tomorrow will hold as planned.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim said parties also resolved that all those who took the National President of the NUJ to court over the state council election must withdraw their cases latest by 12noon, today, to enable the peace committee to send a resolution to the National Secretariat about the election.
“This meeting also agreed that the list that will be used for the election next week Tuesday (today) will be the 2018 delegates list that was used in 2018 for election.
“After exhaustive celebration, we have all collectively agreed that NUJ, Rivers State Council is one family. We have also collectively agreed that peace should reign in the council.
“It was a family meeting, and we have agreed there is no victor, no vanquished. All we seek is a state council that will be an umbrella for journalists to excel in their chosen profession.
“A state council that will promote the ideals of objectivity and constructive criticism; a state council that promotes agenda setting; a state council that will ensure that journalists in Rivers State are not deprived of their rights as practicing journalists.
“So, we believe that by this time next week Monday (today), we have sent a communication that all of us that are here will sign to the National Secretariat for the election to hold,” he said.
Nsirim also conveyed the assurance of the national president of the union to the effect that if the case is withdrawn from the court, he would allow the election to hold, using the 2018 delegates’ list.
He, therefore, appealed to all the contending parties to desist from making inflammatory utterances on the NUJ social media platforms in other not to fuel another round of crisis amongst members of the union.
“We are going to sanction members from any camp that will post any information that will stir up acrimony. Anybody that posts any information that will stir up acrimony will be collectively sanctioned.
“So, let all the parties, please, maintain the peace that we have achieved at this meeting”.
He urged eligible members to come out and vote for the candidates of their choice.
“It is a secret ballot. There should be no violence. Let us play by the rules”.
He thanked a veteran and former commissioner, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke; and the Vice President, South-South of the union, Mr. Opaka Dokubo for their efforts in brokering peace, hoping that after Tuesday, NUJ, Rivers State Council, would come back as one family, “and all of us will begin to enjoy as the family that it used to be in the past.”
Speaking, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, who is a former member of the House of Representatives, described the meeting as a very great day for the union came to understanding to hold election after several months of disagreements.
He thanked both sides in the struggle for power in the union for the concessions, noting that their resolve had paved the way for a new dawn in the union.
“Let me specifically thank the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim for the support that he has given in other to ensure that we have a breakthrough.
He also admonished all potential voters to prepare to exercise their franchise on Tuesday, remarking that above all, there are no losers, rather, the victor was the union.
Also speaking, the Vice President, South-South of NUJ, Mr. Opaka Dokubo expressed the readiness of the national president to see the conduct of the election on the scheduled date.
He advised the leadership of the contending camps to ensure their followers conduct themselves in a peaceful manner to achieve a hitch-free election, tomorrow.
The Chairmanship candidates, Mr. Stanley Job Stanley of the Consolidation Team; and Mr. Paul Bazia-Nsaneh of the Restoration Team, pledged their commitment to the resolutions reached at the meeting.
The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, was also attended by members of the Caretaker Committee and that of the Credentials Committee for the election.
By: John Bibor
News
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
Worried over the high rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr Peter Mbah, has called for closer synergy and cooperation among security agencies to check the ugly trend and ensure safety on all the roads within the country.
Governor Mbah, made the call in an address at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command and Staff College, Udi near Enugu.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Aka Eze Aka, governor Mbah noted that closer security and intelligence sharing on incidents on roads within the country by various security formations and agencies both military and para-military would lead to greater security and safety of lives and property on roads.
He stated that the state government had keyed into the FRSC vision of reduction in road crashes and fatalities, adding that it had equipped the state traffic officers with the same set targets.
“As an administration, we are making all efforts to fix and improve on all roads and road infrastructure within the state; while we are calling on the Federal Government to do the same.
“Our partnership with the FRSC for training and retraining of our road traffic officers will continue and be strengthened so that as a state it will also build its own capacity to deal with road traffic issues and challenges,” he said.
Governor Mbah, however, congratulated the graduating participants of the course, while commending the FRSC management for being in the forefront of raising the standard and quality of its staff.
According to him, “my administration will continue to partner with the FRSC and strengthen existing engagements of mutual benefits”.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said that the event was significant to the Corps as it marked its commitment to continuously improve its educational and operational standard and capacity.
Biu, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem, who is in-charge of FRSC Training, said that the Corps was building resiliency and increasing its service delivery capacity by equipping its officers with quality and international standard training.
By: Canice Amadi Enugu
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
-
Politics4 days ago
Impeachment: Edo CJ Raises Panel To Investigate Allegations Against Dep Gov
-
News4 days ago
Federal Lawmakers Kick Against Extension Of Rivers LG Chairmen’s Tenure
-
News2 days ago
Police Prosecute 29,052 Cases, Secure 16,200 Convictions In One Year
-
Politics2 days ago
Senegal: Faye Set To Become Youngest Elected African President As Rival Concedes Defeat
-
News2 hours ago
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
-
Business4 days ago
Nigeria’s Public Debt Hits N97.3trn – DMO
-
News4 days ago
I’ll Dedicate My Birthday To Nation-Building, No Celebrations -Tinubu
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
NDDC, Firm To Train Bayelsa Youths In Acquacultrue