Politics
RSG Lifts Embargo On Employment
Rivers State Government, last week, lifted ban on employment and subsequently approved the recruitment of indigenes to fill existing vacancies.
Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, who announced this last Wednesday during the 2019 Workers Day celebration at Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt also disclosed that ban on promotion of civil servants has been lifted.
Governor Wike who was represented by his deputy, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the chairman of the state Civil Service Commission has already been directed to conduct interviews and effect the promotion of civil servants to their next salary grade levels.
He said the step is to strengthen the state civil service for more effective service delivery to Rivers people.
The State Government has also commenced the disbursement of the monthly interest free loan to traders and civil servants.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Politics and Strategy, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh who announced this at a media briefing after the State Executive Council meeting held Thursday last week disclosed that the empowerment programme will run on a monthly basis for civil servants in the state and that N200million was earmarked monthly for the scheme.
At the council meeting, the state government says it would prosecute the former Commissioners of Health, and Finance, Dr Samson Parker and Chamberlain Peterside respectively, over alleged squandering of N34.5billion belonging to the state owned Integrated Medical Industries Limited ( String Factory).
The Attorney General of the state, Dr Zaacheus Adango, who stated this in a media briefing after the last council meeting said the Project Manager of the firm, Mr M. Nwokoma would also be prosecuted.
According to him, the council has mandated the Attorney General to pursue the criminal prosecution when the white paper on the report of the commission that investigated the company assets is published.
Also last week under review, Governor Wike hosted his Benue State counterpart, Dr Samuel Ortom , last Thursday.
The two state governors were in a close- door meeting and outcome of the meeting was not made known to newsmen but the said meeting, according to feelers was on the development of the two states.
The Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA) also last week announced the nomination of Governor Wike for its exalted ‘NMA Healthcare Merit Award’.
Chairman of NMA, Rivers State chapter, Dr (Mrs) Obulebra Adebiyi announced this at a congratulatory visit to the governor, Tuesday, in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The NMA boss said that the award is in recognition of the projects and programmes executed by the governor in the healthcare sector.
She said: “ In view of the far reaching impact of your numerous developmental projects in the health sector and by the recognition of NMA Rivers State, you have been nominated by the NMA President, Prof Francis Faduyile, the National Officers Committee and the National Executive Council for the highly esteemed “ NMA Healthcare Merit Award “.
In response, Gov Wike thanked the association for the honour and remarked that the award would spur him to greater service.
Wike announced that the 7 – month entitlements owed House Officers would be settled by his administration and directed that payment of House Officers stipends be placed under the management of state Ministry of Finance.
Governor Wike on Saturday, joined other sympathisers across the nation for the funeral mass of late Chief Frederick Oritseweyinmi Omajolone Ogbe at the St Paul’s Catholic Church Ekuredu Itsekiri in Warrior, Delta State.
Wike who was accompanied by Senateor-elect, Rivers East Senatorial District, George Thompson Sekibo, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Engr Emeka Woke and a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Marcus Nleji , paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased.
Chris Oluoh
Politics
Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
Politics
2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Politics
Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations

The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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