News
Rivers PDP Refutes ‘No Confidence’ Vote On Orbih
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed insinuations in certain quarters that it had passed a ‘no confidence’ vote on the Deputy National Chairman of the party for the South-South Zone, Chief Dan Orbih.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant (New Media) to Rivers State PDP Chairman, Barrister Ojukwu Stephen, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, the PDP said that that the fake news being spread in the social media and some online publications was the handiwork of mischief makers.
The party, therefore, urged Rivers people and others resident in the state to discountenance the fake news as there was no such decision taken by the PDP, stressing that the leadership and the entire membership of the party in the state still had implicit confidence in Orbih’s leadership of the party in the zone.
The statement read in full: “The attention of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has been drawn to some unfortunate and despicable publications making roundsand particularly sponsored by mischiefmakers and persons who have long decided to makeconfusion and lawlessness in their stock-in-trade concerning the progress, unity, and development of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State; and, by extension the South-South.
“Ordinarily, the schemes of these tricksters, fraudulent entities, and attention seekers are well unworthy of any response. However, given the alleged representation that the ‘vote of no confidence is sponsored by the PDP in Rivers State, under the guise of ‘PDP Youth Council, Rivers State, as well as the somewhat negative impact it may have on the undisputed unity and progress of our great party, the PDP.
“It is important to state that the falsehood being rumoured that a no-confidence vote was passed on the PDP Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, lacks all iota of truth, and is misguided to create disunity and confusion in the party, especially as the party prepares for the 2023 general election.
“Having discovered the falsehood and evil Intentions behind the said publication, we hereby unequivocally and unreservedly state that the publication does not represent the true state of affairs in the PDP South-South, or the strong PDP family in Rivers State under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike.
“It is important to stress that the propagators of this falsehood are faceless and politically abysmal, as no such group is registered in the state, or as a support group of the party in the state; and as so cannot make political pronouncements for the party.
“It is noteworthy that the youth leader of the happy, strong, and united PDP family in Rivers State is Hon. Ikpechi Prince Oriji, not the political-relevance-seeking, Marshall Onuah; a known usurper in Rivers State.
“It is also noteworthy that the youth leader of the party in the state, neither authorized nor sanctioned the caricature of a publication made on behalf of the youth or the party; and all such actions are done in exercise of the Individual right of the person, for which the PDP family in Rivers State acknowledges and respects as the right of citizens.
“While we do not ‘hold a brief’ for the accomplished and astute, Chief Dan Orbih, our Internal investigation reveals that the publication (together with its false and unsanctioned contents) is targeted at the revered political juggernaut simply due to his love for equity, justice, and fair-play, and in particular, his admiration for the Governor of Rivers State, and Nyerisi of Niger Delta, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its youths, in Rivers State hereby disassociates themselves from the politically empty, and self-serving publication by Marshall Onuah, and his cohorts”, the statement added.
Similarly, the Rivers East wing of the PDP youths has restated its loyalty and support for the leadership of the State Youth Leader of the party, Hon. Prince Ikpechi Oriji.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Youth Leader 1, PDP, Rivers State, Alfred Nwafor, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, the youths said that they remained confident in the quality leadership provided by Chief Dan Orbih.
The statement read in full, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement making rounds on social media by an unknown individual, one Onuah Marshall against a man of integrity, a highly placed leader of PDP in the South-South,the PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orhih.
“We would not have given such an empty script attention, but to put records straight for the reading public not to be deceived, we make this statement in support of the earlier statement made by our State Youth Leader, Hon Prince Ikpechi Oriji. We therefore state the following in support of our State Youth Leader:That we the PDP Youth leaders (LGA and Wards) and the entire PDP youths in Rivers East Senatorial District stand firmly in support of our State Youth Leader Hon. Prince Ikpechi Oriji on the Refutal Statement earlier released from his office.
“That the said Onuah Marshall is an impostor, and as such, all allegations raised by him against the PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone, Chief Dan Orbih are baseless, untrue and unfounded from the pit of he’ll.
“That the said PDP Youth Council which Onuah Marshall parades is not in existence as far as the youth wing of PDP Rivers State is concerned. This is because every recognised Party youth body or group is registered through the office of the state youth leader. We therefore reaffirm that the said PDP Youth Council is faceless and does not exist as a youth body/group in PDP Rivers State.
“That on behalf of myself the Assistant Youth Leader 1 (Youth Leader, Rivers East Senatorial District), the Eight LGA Youth Leaders and the 116 Ward Youth Leaders in our Senatorial District supports our Capacity State Youth Leader, Hon. Prince Ikpechi Oriji on passing a Vote Of Confidence on our leader and father, Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman of PDP South-South Zone for his support to the growth of our dear party, his exemplary leadership style and qualities in making sure that our democracy is advanced in our zone and Nigeria at large.
“Finally, we do not border, just as we agree with the aphorism that a golden fish has no hiding place, We also know it is true that evil comes with rewards. We therefore advise the said Onuah Marshall who has shown he is uncivilised, uncultured and dancing to the beats of his paymasters to desist forthwith and render an unreserved apology to our leader or face the law”, the statement indicated.
The statement further explained that the PDP was a formidable party in the state, and would not be distracted by detractors using its name, while being paid by enemies of the party.
“Our main focus is galvanizing support to ensure that the Gubernatorial candidate, the incoming Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and other candidates in the state, emerge successfully in their various positions come 2023.
“We warn these jobless attention seekers to desist from being willing tool’s in the hands of saboteurs that are hell bent on sabotaging this Rivers project.
“Let it be known for the avoidance of doubt that there is no existing group in the state known as ‘PDP Youth Council’, it is nothing but the figment of the imagination of malicious individuals with bad intentions towards the party in the state”, the party said.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.