News
50-Member EU Observers Set To Monitor General Elections
A 50-member strong European Observation Mission in Nigeria, 2023, will be deployed across the country to monitor the forthcoming general elections.
The observers, who will operate in 20 teams in various parts of the country, will also be complemented by some embassy staff of EU-member countries in the country for monitoring polling units.
Some members of the mission, who will operate in Lagos and are already in the country, shed light on the plans of the team during a visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Lagos Operations, on Tuesday.
The team of two EU’s observers comprising Mr Marko Logar, Long Term Observer and Ms Agnieszka Gorna, Long Term Observer, told NAN they looked forward to international best practices in the forthcoming polls..
The elections begin in 11 days time with the Presidential election.
Logar said that some members of the team already in the country had been observing election campaigns and the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the elections.
According to him, the team has also been meeting critical stakeholders like Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non Governmental Organisations and judiciary while also speaking with the media about activities ahead of the elections.
Logar said that the mission’s findings after the election would be presented by its Chief Observer.
He said that they would also present the preliminary and final report on the elections..
Also speaking, Gorna added that the team was asking a lot of questions from stakeholders, just like their colleagues deployed to other states were doing.
“We are not supporting any political party. We will be open to all comments and criticisms.
“We will like to be visible and transparent. We have nothing to hide,” she said.
On expectations, Gorna said,” Everything should be according to the law – the Electoral Law, following international practices.
According to him, the EU has 20 teams of observers in Nigeria and would also get more staff to monitor polling units.
“Mostly in this period, we are interested in the campaign of candidates and political parties because campaign is still ongoing.
“We have 20 teams in the country collecting information and each team is observing different states,” Gorna added.
She said that the mission was completely independent and had no limitations, adding that they were not supporting any political party but wishing every candidate good luck.
The observer added that the mission was trying to check information on social media because it was easy to put just anything out there.
“We need to be very careful about misinformation and disinformation. This, of course is the problem everywhere,” she said.
The members were received by Mr Abdul-fatah Babatunde, the Acting Head of Lagos Operations as well as other management staff and editors in Lagos.
Babatunde, who welcomed the team, said that NAN had a wide spread with offices in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, foreign offices, 12 zonal offices and district offices.
The acting HLO, who noted that no media organisation had the reach of NAN, said that the agency had taken the forthcoming elections as a national assignment.
He said: “Everything that will make it a success is what we are after. We can assure you, we are giving good reportage of all the activities.
“We have been covering all the political parties to give everyone of them a voice. We extend equal coverage to all of them. We do not discriminate.
“We give all political parties equal chances to sell their candidates and manifestoes. We report events as we see it without any colouration.”
He urged the team to reach out to NAN at anytime they needed to, especially when releasing their reports.
Other editors present include Mr Folorunso Poroye, the Head of Editorial Department; Mr Oluwole Sogunle, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head, Metro Desk; Mr Joe Idika, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head, Science and Technology Desk; Mrs Ijeoma Popoola, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head of Judiciary Desk, and Mr Dianabasi Effiong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head of Health Desk.
Others are Mrs Wunmi Ashafa, Head Economic Desk and Mr Kamal Oropo, Head Multimedia Desk.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
-
Education4 days ago
Old Students Plan N1bn Rehabilitation For Ekiti School
-
News3 days ago
Police Mourn Six Slain Officers, Declare Six Others Missing In Delta
-
Rivers2 days ago
HYPREP Completes Six Water Projects, Three Booster Stations In Ogoniland
-
News1 day ago
Fubara Dissolves Sanitation Task Force, Appoints Interim Head
-
Politics4 days ago
Osun PDP Alleges Plot To Arrest Govt, Party Officials
-
News3 days ago
Nigeria Scales Global Aviation Safety, Security Audit
-
News2 days ago
The European Union (EU) says it will end its five-year Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) programme aimed at enhancing the capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria, on April 14. Mr Damilare Babalola, the National Programme Manager, ACT, said this on Tuesday at a brief event in Port Harcourt. Babalola said that the conclusion of the programme would automatically mean an end for the 21 CSOs based in Rivers. He stated that the EU-funded programme, valued at 13.1 million euros, was executed by the British Council across 10 states, with a presence in the 36 states of the federation. “The programmes’ goals are to assist CSOs in becoming more credible, accountable and effective agents of change, for sustainable development in Nigeria. “The implementation focussed on providing capacity-building skills, referred to as capacity development support to CSOs, to enhance their effectiveness. “Additionally, it aimed to evaluate the regulatory environment for CSOs and promote strategic coordination among them and other key stakeholders in terms of collaboration and advocate, for appropriate legislation and regulations,” he explained. Babalola identified the benefitting states as Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “The ACT programme commenced in 2019 and will officially conclude on April 14, marking the end of five-years of active implementation in the country. “Rivers was among the states where we initiated the programme during our phase two launch in 2020, and we are here to formally close the ACT programme in the state. “ACT has addressed significant challenges affecting the effectiveness and impact of civil societies, especially in creating an enabling regulatory environment,” he added. He expressed confidence that in spite of ACT’s departure from the country, civil society groups have gained sufficient capacity to effectively carry out their responsibilities in their respective focus areas within the communities. The programme manager noted that 273 CSOs benefitted from the programme across the country, with 233 CSOs receiving capacity-building training and 40 others trained to enhance regulatory conditions. In his remark, ACT Rivers Focal Person, Mr Temple Oraeki, emphasised the importance of CSOs collaborating with the state government and international donor agencies to advance their programmes and projects within the communities. “The 21 CSOs, comprising of eight community-based organisations and three network coalitions in Rivers, now serve as our ambassadors, equipped to make positive impact in society. “Therefore, we are leaving behind organisations that are credible partners for the government and international donor agencies to execute their programmes in communities,” he said. Gov. Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers, expressed the state’s readiness to engage with CSOs to implement government policies and programmes in the various communities where they operate. Represented by Diokuma Ismael, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Fubara lauded the EU and British Council for their interventions in the state. “The success of the ACT programme has undoubtedly enhanced the value of civil society organisations in the state and nationwide. “We are prepared to partner with the CSOs that have impacted communities, once all necessary documentations are concluded. “However, it is crucial for CSOs to adhere to proper regulations, to enable the government to identify with them for sustainable development,” he said. Fubara urged the civil society groups to align with the state government’s policy to drive positive change in the communities.
-
Politics1 day ago
Senate Hails Kuriga Students Rescue, Says Military Overstretched