Rivers
Rivers LG Crisis: APC Chieftain Declares Fubara’s Action Constitutional
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Rivers State, Barr. Sogbeye Eli, has declares as constitutional the action of the State Governor, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, in the ongoing political crisis over the expiration of the tenure of chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Speaking exclusively in a telephone interview, recently, in Port-Harcourt, Eli said there was nothing unlawful about the action of the Governor in directing the newly sworn-in Caretaker Committee Chairmen to take over the reign of affairs in the 23 LGAs.
He noted that the Law No. 2 of 2024 made by the estranged Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and the sacked 26 members of the Assembly, extending the tenure of the outgone Chairmen by six months had been expunged from the laws of Rivers State by Justice DG Kio of the State High Court.
“That law has been expunged by Honourable Justice Kio from the laws of Rivers State, it means that it does not exist.
“So, the outgone Council Chairmen cannot rely on a law that is not in existence to continue to stay in office when their tenure had elapsed constitutionally.
“That law conflicts with the 1999 Constitution as amended, and in Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No.5 of 2018.
“The Local Government system in Nigeria is more like a department of a state. Governors have a hand in the affairs of the Councils. The Constitution allows a 3 year tenure for the Chairmen and there is room for second term.
“But the tenure of these guys elapsed on the midnight of last Monday, June 17, 2024. That is the law and the Constitution”, he said.
Eli, who was the spokesman of the APC Campaign Council in the 2023 general elections in the state, said he relyed on the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of the Attorney -General of the Federation versus the Attorney -General of Abia State, which ruled on the tenure of the Council Chairmen in the state in 2021, adding that the judgment applies to all the states of the federation.
He, however, noted that there were few former Chairmen who are still eligible to seek re-election into the Councils whenever election is scheduled by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Bethel Toby
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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).
In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.
The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.
Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.
The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.