News
Oyigbo Group Seeks Wike’s Intervention Over Demolished Market Shops
To avert social disorder and crisis in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Oyigbo Eke Market Traders’ Association (OEMTA) has passionately appealed to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene in the lingering crisis between the association and the local government council authorities with a view to resolving the lingering impasse over allocation of shops at the rebuilt market complex in the area.
The group threatened that they were ready for a show down with the council authorities, if the Chairman of the council, Hon Okechukwu Akara, continues to ignore their appeals in the allocation of shops at the market.
Speaking to journalists at the International Human Rights Protection Initiative office in Port Harcourt, over the weekend, the Coordinator of the association, Comrade John Ihua, said the action of the Oyigbo council chairman was appalling and undemocratic, adding that the appeal to intervene in the matter became necessary following the inhuman was the council authorities were handling their grievances.
The human rights advocate said that over 200 members of the association have been subjected to untold hardship as a result of the inability of the council to honour an agreement it entered into with members of the association before the reconstruction of the market.
According to him,the Oyigbo Local Government Council, in 2012, under the administration of Chief Felix Nweke, entered an agreement with the Eke Market Traders’ Association, where a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reached that each trader should pay the sum of N2,000 as commitment fee for the rebuilding of the market,adding that any member who paid the amount was meant to get back his or her shop upon completion of the market.
Ihua told newsmen that upon the completion of the first phase of the project,the council failed to allocate the shops to the original traders but promised that it would be compensated in the second phase.
“Now,the second phase is nearing completion at the reserved area in the market by the present administration led by Hon Okechukwu Akara. But rather than heeding to the pleas of the traders, he has started selling forms to new applicants, ignoring the original owners of the shops who hadcommitted their hard-earned money into the project for the past 13 years”, he stated.
The human rights advocate appealed to the state chief executive to order the Oyigbo council chairman to do the needful and honour the agreement entered into with the traders in other to avert looming crisis and civil unrest in the area.
In their various emotional speeches,Chairman of the Oyigbo Eke Traders’ Association, Mr Okorie Nwero, and a female trader, Mrs Janneth Nweze, said life has not been easy with them since they lost their shops.
They appealed to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to come to their aid, and save them from the present sufferings and hardship,adding that their children have been prevented from going to school due to lack of money.
“We borrowed this money with interest, and the interest is still running.Some of our colleagues have passed on”, they lamented.
When contacted on phone,the Legal Adviser to Oyigbo Local Government Council,Barrister Stephen Nweke, urged the traders to be patient as the matter was before a competent court of jurisdiction,adding that the council would abide by the outcome of the court decision on the matter.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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