News

Amaechi, Abe Renew Rivalry As Rivers APC Gears For Congress

Published

6 years ago

August 26, 2019

The main opposition political party in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be in for another round of crisis as the immediate past Senator who represented Rivers South East District, Senator Magnus Abe, has condemned the call by Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the party members to prepare for elective congresses, describing the move as unacceptable.
Amaechi had shortly after being assigned portfolio as minister of transportation by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on August 21, said there would be party congress to elect leaders in Rivers State.
But in a swift reaction, Abe, in a statement on his behalf by his spokesman, Parry Benson, said the minister made the announcement without minding the extant judicial pronouncements on the subject matter and the need for consultation as it affects the interest of party members.
The statement said that Abe, who spoke during a courtesy visit on him by the Rivers APC Visionary Media Team in Port Harcourt, noted that Amaechi rather than concentrate on achieving the needed contribution to national development was creating another avenue for tension and crisis in the political structure of the party.
Both Amaechi and Abe lead two factions of the APC in the state.
He accused the minister of demonstrating the same behaviour that brought the party in Rivers State to its knees before the 2019 general election; just as he queried Amaechi for making such provocative announcement when he was not the national chairman of the party.
While urging Amaechi to think of rebuilding the party by admitting his faults and respecting the rights and feelings of party members in the state, Abe said that the minister’s attitude had led the party to where it is today in the state.
The senator, however, appealed to his supporters to be resolute and more committed to the growth of the APC in the state, and assured the group that though he is out of office, he is still a politician that is committed to the ideologies of the party.
Abe further said: “Look at our party here today in Rivers State, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on assumption of office, the first thing he did was to announce congress in Rivers State, and I ask myself, this was the same kind of behaviour that led the party to where it is.
“Everybody in Nigeria knows that the origin of the crisis in Rivers APC was from the congress and how the congress was handled, and there are Judicial pronouncements on the congress which you ignored, and led the party to ignore, and we have all kept quiet in the hope that by keeping quiet, we will create room for resolution of some of these challenges so that the party can move forward.
“Instead, you become crazier, in your challenge to the rights, feelings and interests of others within the same political party. How do we do that, and expect to make progress?
“What kind of congress? Is he the chairman of the party? Is he the National Working Committee (NWC)? Is he the court? What gives him the power to come and announce congress on the day he was inaugurated as minister?
“Rather than address the issues of the country and the issues of your ministry, the first thing you could do is to reopen sour points in the heart of members of the party. And it is on that basis that party members have been deprived of every benefit. Is that how to grow a political family? Is that how to grow politics? We will not accept that congress!
Earlier, Director General of Rivers APC Visionary Media Team, Robertson Jack, had said the visit was to pledge their support to his (Abe’s) peaceful disposition in the pursuit of internal democracy, inclusiveness, justice and equity in Rivers APC, and assured that the group would do all it takes to ensure that the party succeeds in the state.

Dennis Naku

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.