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…Secures Truce Between Jang, Useni

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4 years ago

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Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has brokered a truce between the immediate past governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang and Senator Jeremiah Useni.
Wike, who met with the two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaders in Jos, the Plateau State capital, last Wednesday, said his reconciliatory visit was necessary if the party was to reclaim state governorship position and defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023 general election.
The Rivers State governor, during the meeting which took place at the residence of Useni, explained that his visit was necessitated by friction that had existed between the two leaders.
He noted that if the friction was not urgently resolved, it would affect the success of the party in future.
“I do know that there will be by-election at the federal constituency and state constituency, and then, again we are talking about the gubernatorial and national elections next year. If the party is not united, no matter how bad APC is, there is no way we can win.”
He further said, “And so, for me, personal sacrifices can be made if you have fought wars for this country for the unity of Nigeria and today Nigeria is bleeding, not only Nigeria is bleeding, Plateau too is bleeding. I have no apology to say that the people of Plateau State are waiting for you both to put the party together, and then, you will just take back Plateau State. Plateau State is a natural PDP state.”
Wike stated that it would be a disservice to the people of Plateau, if the two leaders allow the APC to remain in power because of small disagreements between them.
He, therefore, urged them to set aside their political differences in the interest of the party.
“There are disagreements everywhere. There are disagreements in the party even at the national level. So, it is not a question of I am right. It is not a question of Jang is right, you are wrong or you are right, Jang is wrong. It is a question of, for whatever it takes, can we please, in the name of God, leave our personal interests and make our party move forward.”
The Rivers State governor implored both Jang and Useni to make personal sacrifices to move the party forward not only in Plateau State, but in Nigeria at large.
According to him, the unity of the party was key at this crucial moment because APC moles within the PDP were trying to sow seed of discords.
“APC is trying to penetrate our party to make sure that the leadership of the party at the national level is being distracted through one or two persons, but we are making sure that does not happen. While we are doing that, we also want to make sure that the branches are also united.”
Wike explained that rebuilding the party is what was most paramount to concerned members of the PDP who want the party to return to power at the centre and retake majority of the states in the country.
“If the party is united, then, we are sure of coasting home in 2023, and not just the national election, also Plateau State, knowing full well that Plateau is a PDP state, but somehow, we are no longer in power in Plateau State.”
After a closed door meeting with the two PDP leaders, Wike announced that they have agreed to set aside their differences and work together.
“I can tell you that the two of them have agreed. They will meet on their own, compare notes, and share, then, we will later meet. By the grace of God, I can tell you that PDP will bounce back in Plateau State.”
Wike also took a swipe the ruling APC, and declared that Nigerians who were already disenchanted with the pervading hunger in the land, insecurity and growing abject poverty were anxiously waiting for the PDP to return to power and rescue the nation.
For this reason, he urged PDP members to unite in order to successfully wrest power from the APC.
“We have to put ourselves together. If we put ourselves together, then, we will be helping Nigerians. But if we don’t put ourselves today, then, Nigerians will not be happy with us because that means we are allowing the ruling party, its maladministration to remain in power.”
In his remarks, the former Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, thanked Wike for visiting Jos to broker truce between him and Useni.
He further disclosed that following the intervention of Wike, he and Useni have agreed to work together in the interest of the party.
“We have agreed to work together to ensure the unity of PDP on the Plateau and ensure victory in 2023 election, not only governorship, all other elections, federal or state. We want PDP to take its rightful position again on the Plateau, and this is what we are going to work on. We want to thank Governor Nyesom Wike for coming to talk to us, and we have agreed that we will continue from here.”
On his part, Senator Jeremiah Useni commended Wike for finding time to come to Jos on a reconciliatory visit.
He assured the governor that as a former state governor, he would henceforth forge a common alliance with Jang in the interest of the party.
He disclosed that he has been following the developmental strides of the Rivers State governor, and urged other governors to emulate him.
“I have been following your activities, and I always tell people that if we have governors like you, Nigeria would have been changed.”
On Wike’s entourage were, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe; Rivers State PDP Chairman, Amb Desmond Akawor; former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuchi; and Austin Opara; Senator Lee Maeba; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; and former Rivers State PDP chairman, Bro Felix Obuah.

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Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama 

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6 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.
According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.
He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.
According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.
He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.
“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.
Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.
“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.
“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.
“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.
“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.
In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.
He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.
While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.
Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.
He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community
Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.
Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.
She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.
Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.
Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.
She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.
By: John Bibor
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Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants 

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6 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.
He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.
He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.
The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.
He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.
He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.
Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.
According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.
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NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

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6 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.
The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.
Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.
Dr. Ogbuku  represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.
He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.
 “ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust  and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.
 when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated
He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.
Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.
In his  keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,
Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.
The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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