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Stakeholders Task INEC On Credible Guber Poll

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Many stakeholders have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from recent experience and improve on subsequent elections, especially the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the country.
They said this recently at a multi stakeholders forum on peaceful election organized by Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace And Development (CiEpD) with support from foundation for Partnership in the Niger Delta (PIND) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Some of the stakeholders also urged the Commission to ensure election results are transmitted electronically.
In a release made available to newsmen at the meeting, CIEPD thanked Nigerians for coming out en masse to express their civic duties during the election.
The group said, “despite the mixed feelings and emotions that are expressed, we call on Nigerians especially the good people of Rivers State, to remain calm and peaceful at this critical time.
“It is expedient that we eschew violence and by no means take laws into our hands. We need to build a peaceful and prosperous Rivers State/Nigeria”.
Also speaking, representative of foundation for PIND, Chief Constance Meju, said the event was to galvanize the people of the Niger Delta with the view to ensuring peaceful and credible elections in the region.
In their separate remarks, the Rivers State Police Command and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) promised to mobilize their personal with a view to ensuring peace during the election.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of PIND, Mrs Egondu Ogbalor, has called on the people of the Niger Delta to avoid violence during the elections in the state.
The programme has as its theme, “Community Stakeholders Network Capacity Building Conflict Management and Analysis, Advocacy, Community Mobilisation and Election Violence Mitigation”.
The Executive Director said the programme is for stakeholders from some flash point local Government Areas of Rivers State.
She said the participants are to watch out for early signs of conflicts in the affected Local Government Areas and report to the appropriate authorities.
Egondu listed the affected local Government Areas as Akuku Toru, Tai, Port Harcourt City, Obio /Akpor, Asari Toru, Ikwerre, and Eleme Local Government Areas.
According to her, “we are working on elections, we are also warning. We have a platform where people report conflicts”.
Egondu said the group is presently focusing on the seven affected Local Government Areas, saying, “in this program we have respondents who respond to conflicts and early warning to save lives”.
She listed some of the causes of conflicts during elections to include hijack of ballot boxes, violence during campaign rallies and shooting during campaign rallies.
Also speaking, a member of the institute of Human Rights And Humanitarian Law, Mr Courage Nsirimovu, said the training will enable the trainees to identify early warning and signs of conflicts.
“The essence of the training is basically to reduce conflicts.There is a concept that is called early warning and early response and that is what we intended to use.
“We received information from our field officers during the election and we transmit it to the relevant stakeholder either INEC the police, civil society organisation or people of influence and that is the platform we want to use, he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Rose Chuka said the program is all about curbing violence during the election.
According to her, “the programme is all about training on electoral violence and what to do before election”.
On his part another participant, Dr Prince Eze, said the program was to build their capacity with a view to checking violence during elections.
“Basically this training will ensure that the election is credible. It also helps to ensure that there will be no electoral violence or conflicts”, he said.

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IYC Demands Apology Over Arrest Of Soboma Jackrich

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The Elders Council of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has demanded for an apology from the security agencies over the recent invasion of the residence of Ambassador Soboma Jackrich where two of his aides were killed.
The council said this in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Signed by Elder Afonya Horsefall, Chairman Ijaw Youth Elders Council, KalabariSekpangi, said the military, by the invasion has trampled on the inalienable rights of its leader.
According to the organisation, “the wanton destruction of his property and the killing of aides is repugnant to natural justice and must be restituted.
It stressed the need for the security agencies to be professional in their approach to security, adding that every action of the security agencies must be within the ambit of the law.
The group described Ambassador Soboma Jackrich as a prominent Ijaw leader who has contributed immensely towards the development of the Niger Delta and the relative peace in the region.
The IYC also called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara to come to the aide of the Niger Delta people by ensuring security and development in the region.

By: John Bibor

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Rivers

Fubara Has Demystified Governance-Elder Statesman

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As Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration is set to mark itsone year anniversary, an elder statesman, Sir Fubara Hart, says governance in Rivers State under the governor has been demystified.
Hart, two-time House of Representatives aspirant, therefore, called on Rivers people to rally round the Governor in show of support to achieve the desired objective.
Hart, in an interview in Port Harcourt, said under Governor Fubara, infrastructural development and human capital development are given .maximum attention they deserve for the wellbeing of the citizenry.
He said available evidences abound in the State, judging from the thanksgiving rallies organised by the Simplified Movement, saying it is a strong indication that Rivers people are pleased with the wave of development in the State.
He noted that the spread of projects across the nooks and crannies of the State, unlike in the past, has endeared the Governor to the people who are celebrating him.
Hart said under Governor Fubara, Rivers, people can feel a sense of belonging, as governance is being given a human face through the distribution of social amenities across the board.
He maintained that it would be appropriate to support Governor Fubara, rather than distracting him, saying Governor Fubara has shown his determination to change the fortunes of the people, especially the unreached, among the populace .
“In the past, it wasn’t like this, a scenario where one man divided and cornered the wealth of the people is over. Rivers people are pleased, being carried along and being allowed to contribute to the growth of the State.
The multi-billion naira Port Harcourt Ring Road; Trans-Kalabari road project; the low cost housing units; Songhai farm rehabilitation; and job creation can be described as the monumental achievements Governor Fubara has recorded.
“Gone are the days projects are sited in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area alone. Rivers people can now see projects in all parts of the State. We appeal to detractors to allow Governor Fubara serve his people, give him maximum cooperation as it was given to Wike and others who had ruled the State. Others ruled for eight years, so nothing will stop our own.
Governor Fubara is one of the best things that has happened to Rivers State, as his peaceful disposition, accessibility and open-door policy are hallmark of leadership. He came for Rivers people, as seen in his actions and conduct. Anyone fighting him is an enemy of Rivers people and should be jettisoned,” he said.
Hart said the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili was right by endorsing Governor Fubara as the political leader of the State as provided in the PDP Constitution.
The PDP meant well by enshrining it in his Constitution, which the All Progressives Congress (APC) borrowed to implement.
The elderstatesman, therefore, appealed to all PDP members to respect the party’s Constitution as it is supreme.
He urged the 27 lawmakers led by Hon Martin Amaewhule to know that they are no longer lawmakers in the eyes of the law as any law made by them cannot stand.
While urging them to desist from being used by one selfish politician to destablise the peace existing in the State, Hart pleaded with the Governor to remember Bonny Local Government Area in the award of road projects, as Bonny internal roads are begging for attention.

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Monarch Lauds Fubara Over Solicitor-General’s Appointment

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The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, King Leslie Eke, has praised the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over the appointment of Mrs Ibiwari Charity Clapton-Ogolo as Permanent Secretary and Solicitor- General of the State.
Eke  said this at a press briefing to mark his birthday at his palace in Woji in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He said Clapton-Ogolo being a seasoned lawyer will do as expected in an attempt to project and defend the interest of the people.
According to him, such opportunity will also reduce the work-load on the office of the Attorney -General of the State.
The traditional ruler also said the appointment will aid in prompt delivery of justice in the State.
The appointment, he noted, has further demonstrated the Governor’s strength in governance of the State and not weakness as argued in some quarters.
He said those who are not in tune with the modern ways of governance will always be at the sea at each step taken by Governor Fubara.
The Governor, he further explained, is full of wisdom and is prepared to better the lots of Rivers people.
“I am at home with the Governor’s leadership style. He is calculative and he always hits the nail on the head. Well, people are free to say anything they like, but for me, the Governor is a goal getter”, he said.
He re-emphasised the intention of the entire Evo Kingdom’s undiluted support for the present administration as he prayed God to continue to guide and direct the Governor aright in order to enable him deliver credibly on the mandate given him.
It would be recalled that the State has for some time operated with only the office of the Attorney-General of the State until the recent appointment of the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of State by Governor Fubara.

By: King Onunwor

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