News
Akawor Unveils Constituency Projects In Eleme
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Rivers State, Amb Desmond Akawor has commissioned well-furnished town hall with a sound proof generator built by the lawmaker representing Eleme Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Aforji Igwe.
The lawmaker also empowered over 100 persons selected in the 10 wards, as some were given cars, while some got starter packs to start different businesses.
Speaking at the event in Aleto Community, at the weekend, Akawor described Igwe as a replica of Governor Nyesom Wike in terms of quality projects’ delivery and empowerment at grassroots level.
According to him, the party was pleased with the quality service delivery and effective representation exhibited by the lawmaker.
“We as party we are happy to identify with a man who has been in touch with his people, because he has made the work of the party easier in next election come 2023.
“Eleme is the home of PDP, Hon. Aforji Igwe has shown his Wikematic style of performance”, Akawor said.
Also speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to the King of Eleme, Emere Philip Osaro Obele, in the company of the Deputy Chairman of the party, Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron; the State Secretary, Dr. Benibo George; other members of the state executives as well as the member representing Eleme State Constituency, Hon. Aforji Igwe; whose constituency project he visited Eleme to commission, Akawor commended the people for their support for the PDP and the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike.
He thanked the royal father for his support and for sustaining the peace in the area.
Also speaking, Hon. Igwe Aforji said he got the inspiration from Wike, haven followed him for some years now.
According to him, he was elated to follow a leader like Wike whose desire was to touch the lives of people at grassroots with dividends of democracy,saying that he has no option than perform like him.
“They say charity begins at home, I feel happy being at home and as well reaching out to people at home with meaningful projects.
“I am a true Wikematic man.A lion will never give birth to a goat.I have to do that which I was elected.
“I assure the people of my constituency that I will bring more development to the grassroots.
“I don’t have executive power, but I was able to train our people on different skills and gave them starter packs, empower some widows and gave out cars to support their families to improve their standard of living”, Igwe said.
Igwe thanked the leadership of the PDP for giving him a chance to serve the people of Eleme, adding that he came up with the idea of building a town hall, after interfacing with the king of Eleme on a project to embark on.
He added that the town hall was the first phase of the projects he has carried out, as he plans to give out cars, bikes and other items to his constituents, as part of his projects.
He added that he would not relent in delivering projects to his constituents because that was the sole aim of his office.
Earlier, Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Hon Ollor Obarilomate, said this was what was expected from any good politician, and commended the lawmaker for the gesture, saying that this would further develop the area.
Obarilomate heaped praises on Hon. Aforji Igwe for empowering youths in Eleme and building a state-of-the-art town hall in Aleto.
Speaking on the sideline of the commissioning of the town hall and presentation of cars to four youths from four clans of Eleme, starter packs and grants to 10 female graduates of hair dressing from Aforji’s skills acquisition programme, and second phase of empowerment for 50 widows, Obarilomate said he was happy and sees it as a complimentary action to what the local government council was doing in sustaining the peace in the area.
He said, “When you empower people, there will be peace in the area. This is a complimentary action to what the LG council is doing in sustaining peace in the area. I want to thank him for this laudable empowerment programme that he has carried out. This is one of the things that we expect our leaders who have been elected into various offices to do.
“From time-to-time, we want to tell the people of Eleme that PDP is the party that will give them all what they need for development and their growth. I am a core member of the PDP and I love what the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike is doing because all the younger politicians who are coming up now are following suit.That is why you can see development projects and this kind of programme all over the state.
“So, PDP has fully taken over the political space of Eleme LGA. From what you can see, we are happy, the place is peaceful, all our party faithful, supporters and Eleme people are very jubilant this morning for what our member, Hon Aforji Igwe has done. We want to thank him and we say that God will bless him more and more and give him many more prosperous years in office”, he prayed.
Responding, Emere Philip Osaro Obele thanked Akawor for honouring him with his presence before proceeding to the event he came for, adding that Governor Nyesom Wike must be commended for salvaging the traditional institution of Eleme, for being proactive in project delivery in the area, as well as putting sons and daughters of the area in key positions in his government.
He further commended the member representing Eleme State Constituency, Hon. Aforji Igwefor being a worthy son of the land, who has unveiled a landmark project by constructing and completing the town hall, which would be a legacy that would outlive his administration and impact the people of his domain.
He stated that despite the rants of the opposition, it was obvious that Eleme remains PDP because the support from the people of Eleme has shown that PDP has no rival in their domain.
Dignitaries present include, Hon. Marcus Nle Eji; Hon. Ejor Ngowa Ejor; Hon. Tambari Sydney Gbara; Hon. Field Nkor; Hon. Bellor Waite; Hon. Alice Chu; as well as other notable persons.
By: Tonye Orabere
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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