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2023 Guber: Rivers PDP Receives Fubara’s Certificate Of Return …Dismisses Attack On EFCC Operatives …Urges Anti-Graft Agency To Leave RSG Alone
The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb Desmond Akawor, has congratulated the PDP candidate for the Rivers State gubernatorial race, Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara, for successfully receiving the certificate of return from the national leadership of the party in Abuja, last Tuesday.
Akawor led other party leaders to the PDP Wadata House National Secretariat in Abuja where Fubara was presented his certificate of return amid pomp and pageantry.
Speaking of the epoch making event during a reception in honour of the candidate at the party’s State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Akawor expressed satisfaction with the choice of the Rivers people and their show of support towards Fubara.
Akawor noted that the primary focus of the party now was to retain the winning streak the party has sustained in the state since 1999, which Fubara was set to do.
He added that the party had no rival in the state, adding that the election would be a walk over for the party whose leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, has worked assiduously in the last seven years, through strategic projects’ delivery with meagre resources, to change the landscape of the state, stating that the projects of the governor would be the selling point in the campaign of the party to win and consolidate on.
While putting the records straight regarding the story making the rounds that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made an attempt to arrest the Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP on arrival from Abuja at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Akawor stated that workers of the airport stationed at the tarmac were the ones who restricted Rivers youths from accessing the private plane of the candidate and his entourage, after a long wait due to harsh weather conditions.
Akawor stated that the videos making the rounds have buttressed his point, adding that the men at the airport on reflective jackets did not carry the EFCC logo or crest.
He clarified that PDP members did not at any point attack or assault EFCC operatives.
It was learnt that the EFCC operatives were reportedly beaten as they made to arrest the PDP flag bearer who had gone to Abuja to receive his certificate of return.
It is, however, unclear if the anti-graft agency officials suffered serious injuries.
Akawor said that while the purported incidentwas regrettable, it raised a high sense of excitement and apprehension among party members and leaders.
The state PDP chairman made it clear that there was no corruption case against Fubara as the courts have handled the purported case and delivered judgement on the matter, years ago.
He appealed to operatives of the EFCC to leave officials of the Rivers State Government alone, insisting that the commission has no powers to arrest and prosecute the state government officials.
Akawor advised the leadership and operatives of the EFCC to look elsewhere for corrupt officials in government, saying that many reported cases of corrupt Federal Government officials and appointees were being ignored by the anti-graft agency.
Responding during the reception, Rivers State PDP Governorship Candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, thanked the PDP for believing in him and his ability to continue and consolidate on the giant strides of the leader of the party in the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, noting that his desire was to unite the party, because only a united party can win elections.
He expressed gratitude to the elders, leaders and party faithful for their relentless support and for the hands of fellowship extended to him by other aspirants, which has boosted his confidence that the PDP was an indivisible party, with a common goal to better the lives of Rivers people after winning elections.
Reacting to the alleged attack, the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its operatives were rudely intercepted from arresting the Rivers State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election.
The anti-graft agency alleged that thugs who breached the security of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, last Tuesday night, blocked the operatives from carrying out their lawful duty.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwajeren said, “The armed thugs assaulted operatives of the commission who demonstrated commendable restraint under extreme provocation. The commission condemns the blatant attempt to obstruct justice, warning that its civility should not be taken for granted”.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

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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