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RSG Approves Use Of Stadium For Atiku’s Campaign …Warns Rivers PDP PCC Against Trespass …Says Why Tonye Cole Must Refund Rivers’ $50m …We’ll Make Oyigbo Commercial Hub, Incentivise SMEs, Fubara Commits

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Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said approval has been given to Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for campaign of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the state.
The governor, however, explained that the approval granted at no cost to the Presidential Campaign Council, was that the stadium would be accessible to the council 48hours to the February 11, 2023 presidential campaign.
Wike, who disclosed this while speaking at the campaign flag-off rally by the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council in Oyigbo Local Government Area, last Friday, said the Director-General of the PCC in Rivers State, Dr.Abiye Sekibo, has no right to want to take possession of the stadium one month before the date of the stipulated event.
He warned Sekibo not to provoke the Rivers State Government by desperately wanting to take possession of the state-owned stadium weeks to the campaign, or else, the approval would be cancelled.
Wike, however, said by the approval he signed, Sekibo and his group can only begin to access the stadium two days to the event to verify and put in place what they required for their rally.
“Let me also use this opportunity to warn Abiye Sekibo, we have made approval for your presidential candidate to use Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, on February 11.You have no right to begin to go to the stadium now. We cannot give you access to the stadium now. We can only give you access to the stadium two days to the occasion for you to prepare.
“Nobody gave you one month. So, if you dare it again, to go and force yourself into the stadium, I will cancel the approval with immediate effect. Dare it again, I will cancel it. Heaven will not fall. In fact, if heaven falls now, we will be happy that it was in our time heaven came down.”
The governor wondered why Sekibo was acting against the approval given to him, and said it appears that he was finding a reason to blame in the event that the rally fails.
“I know you are not ready to do that rally. You are only looking for excuse. But you must do it. I know you are going to import people, no problems, go and import. We have given you the stadium.”
Wike also took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for blaming the crisis that greeted the campaign of its governorship candidate in Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt,lastThursday.
The governor stressed that APC became a victim to the brewing crisis between the two factions in Rumuwoji community because they did not address their demand adequately.
Otherwise, Wike wondered why APC did not encounter crisis with their rallies when they used the Tipper Park in Etche Local Government and the IYM secretariat in Ikwerre Local Government.
The governor asked them to stop complaining if they are not ready for the forthcoming general election because the PDP in the state is fully prepared for the election.
Wike mocked Senator Andrew Uchendu, because despite serving in several administrations, he failed to attract development project to his Mgbuitanwo community.
According to him, it was his administration that contracted Julius Berger to construct internal roads, fitted with street lights in Mgbuitanwo.
The governor stressed that the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, in collusion with the immediate past administration of Governor ChibuikeAmaechi, sold the state gas turbines, and diverted $50million from the state account.
Wike said the APC governorship was now facing criminal charges with the state government demanding from him to refund the $50million, which it wants to use for development projects.
“Go and bring our money back. We want to use the money to develop the people of Oyigbo, to develop the people of Rivers State.”
The governor further accused the APC governorship candidate of masterminding the killing of scores of persons in Abonnema by the military during the 2019 general election.
The Rivers State governor told Oyigbo people to know that the PDP governorship candidate, Sir SiminialayiFubara, would continue from where his administration would stop and consolidate on the gains made already.
In his address, Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Sir SiminialayiFubara, told the people of Oyigbo to support PDP, and in return, he would consolidate on the infrastructure and security gains of Governor NyesomWike in the area, and transform it to the commercial hub of the state.
He promised to carry out programmes that would encourage and grow small and medium-sized enterprises in Oyigbo, but urged them to ensure that PDP wins the governorship, National Assembly, and state House of Assembly elections for such promise to be fulfilled.
“We are campaigning on the grounds that Governor NyesomWike’s administration has given you road that the previous administration refused to construct for you. We have built good schools for you, provided security and other basic amenities.
“Our task is to consolidate and continue with the good things already established by Governor Wike. Since you have stable power and you are close to the sea port, we will create an enabling environment for business to thrive.
“Investors will come in from Aba, and other places to establish small-scale and medium-sized businesses here. The basis of development is infrastructure, and that is what this administration has provided. When we say consolidation and continuity, this is what we are talking about.
“The man who just joined us from APC said the reason he jumped ship is because the bad road leading to his community has been constructed by Governor Wike after Amaechi refused to do it. Our government carried out only meaningful projects; we don’t abandon projects everywhere like they do.
“Support us the way you supported Dr. Peter Odili in 1999 to 2007.Support us the same way you have been supporting our Principal, GovernorNyesomWike from 2015 to date. Forget the fact that I am your brother, support me based on my competence and commitment to the overall development of Rivers State,” he said.
Fubara took a swipe at the embattled governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, for embarking on incessant campaign of calumny and lies in lieu of issue-based campaign.
“He claims that he is a pastor but there is nothing in his character and deed that shows that he is a Christian. Christianity is living like Christ, not title. A real pastor will not bring soldiers to kill his own people in the name of election; a real pastor will not be used to steal state assets,” the guber candidate added.
He issued stern warning to Tonye Cole, to focus on his campaign, and leave him out of his affairs.
Fubara insisted that his administration, when elected, would follow in the footsteps of the outgoing government on the slogan of continuity and consolidation.
According to him, he would build on the infrastructure development secured by the Wike administration in Oyigbo, sustain the gains in security, provision of quality education infrastructure, create conducive business climate to promote small scale businesses, while improving on the quality of life of the citizenry.
In his remarks, Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Bro Felix Obuah, said Wike has done so well, and Fubara would consolidate on his achievements.
Obuah said Oyigbo would give Sir SimFubara 90percent of their total votes in the governorship election.
Also, Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb Desmond Akawor, presented the flag of the party to the candidates contesting the various elective positions.
Senator BarinadaMpigi, who spoke on behalf of the candidates, said they were fully ‘Sim-plifed”, and willing to serve the interest of their constituents and the state at large.
Mpigi said they would do allthat Wike has asked them to do.
Former leader of Oyigbo Legislative Assembly, Hon. EbeOwulo, said the projects delivered by Wike in Oyigbo have collapsed the opposition party in the area.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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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 

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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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