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ASUU Strike: ‘Ngige, Nwajiuba’s Presidential Declaration Shameful’
The Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, has described as “shameful” the declaration by Ministers of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and the Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, to contest the 2023 presidential election.
He said their declarations were shameful in respect to their alleged failures in handling the challenges in the education sector that had led to a protracted strike embarked on by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The ASUU rollover strike is in its 10th week and will end in two weeks.
Nwajiuba,Wednesday in Abuja, became the first of many aspirants to obtain copies of the Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to vie for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, Ngige had on April 18 joined the race for the presidential seat.
The minister said he budgeted N50million for the procurement of the nomination and declaration of interest forms of the APC to contest the presidential election.
Ngige said now that the APC had hiked the price tag to N100million, his supporters would support him financially.
But reacting to the development, yesterday, Rafsanjani, who is also the chairman, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), said it was imperative for Ngige and Nwajiuba to tell Nigerians what they seek to contribute positively with their track records as ministers.
He said, “With regards to the ministers, particularly the Minister of State for Education, he should tell Nigerians what it is he is looking for? if they cannot manage the education sector, how will they manage the nation? The minister should have asked himself what he has done to improve the country’s education sector.
“Is the visible failings in the sector not a stain on his name? With the current state of the sector, it shows that he cannot achieve anything at the centre if he eventually becomes the president.
“His immediate work as a minister of education has not shown that he has what it takes. If he cannot, along with the other minister, run the ministry of education effectively and efficiently, what is he looking for?
“Students are on strike but the political class children are in schools abroad and their education is funded by public taxpayers’ money which may have probably been taken. Some of these people are not fit to run for any public office again because as we have seen they cannot manage their present assigned tasks.
Asked if the same goes for Ngige, who has also declared his intention to succeed Buhari, Rafsanjani said, “Yes, of course. All of them! In fact, is it not funny that it is ministers who have failed in their ministries and failed to discharge their responsibilities in the public eye are the ones coming out to declare interest and even buying forms in their bid to replace the president in 2023?”
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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