Rivers
LG Boss Warns Oil Companies Against Selective Judgement
The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, Hon. Erastus Awortu, has warned oil companies operating in Andoni to desist from employing selective judgement approach in their relationship with their Host Communities, saying that such is capable of causing crisis and instability.
Hon. Awortu issued the warning at a dialogue with the Traditional Ruler of Ikuru Town in Andoni, His Royal Majesty, King Aaron Miller Ikuru, Ikwuit VII and members of the Council of Chiefs of Ikuru Town as well as representatives of an oil company operating in the area, “Green Energy International Limited”, to resolve a conflict between the Youth and the Chiefs on employment slots in the company.
The meeting followed a recent protest by the Youth of Ikuru Town who accused the Chiefs of allegedly hijacking employment slots in the oil company meant for the Youth.
Some persons were reportedly injured during the protest by the Youth which turned violent, while some Chiefs were said to have been threatened by the protesters.
The Council Chairman accused the oil company of creating the confusion which created the tension in the community and triggered the anger of the Youth thereby leading to the violent protest.
He urged Green Energy to desist from actions capable of pitting the people against themselves as such could undermine law and order in the area, create instability and interrupt their operations.
“I want to urge oil companies, particularly, to try not to create confusion in Communities where there is no confusion. They must not divide a place to operate peacefully. Creating division in the community is also going to make their operation even more difficult.
“I want to urge Green Energy to give employment to all those that they promise employment and stop creating the impression that some people hijacked slots meant for some other persons”, he urged.
Hon. Awortu called on the aggrieved Youths of Ikuru Town to halt further hostility in the area on account of misinformation or confusion resulting from employment slots in Green Energy, saying he would ensure that no member of the Host Community is shortchanged or deprived of their rights and benefits in the Company.
He urged “everyone to maintain the existing peace in the area as they go about their lawful businesses without let or hindrance”.
On his part, the Chairman of Council of Chiefs of Ikuru Town and former Commissioner of Special Duties in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, debunked allegation of hijack of employment slots in Green Energy meant for the Youths.
He also debunked allegation of marginalization of the Youth in the relationship between the oil company and the host community.
According to Ikanya, “The Youth were not correct on the point they raised in their protest. No Chief went to Green Energy to remove any list, and if Green Energy agreed with them for a number of employment slots, they did not also relate with the Council of Chiefs.
“I also hear the Youths were complaining of marginalization. Again, this is also not correct because in every meeting of the Community, the Youth are invited. In fact, sometimes if we want to discuss about our relationship with the oil company, we invite the BOT, we invite the leadership of the Youth.
“We invite every organ of the company to attend, the Youth are always in attendance of our meeting. So, I can’t find any reason why they should conduct the kind of protest to the extent I hear they conducted, and I can’t find any reason they also issued threat to the life of all the Chiefs and the King of Ikuru Town.
“In the meeting, we have been able to tell the Council Chairman that there is no truth in all the allegations raised by the Youth, and the Youth themselves know that there is no truth in all the allegations.
“I hope that the Youth will learn a lesson that violence does not pay any nation, it doesn’t pay any Community, there are dispute resolution avenues.
“Even the PIA provided for dispute resolution, if they were aggrieved or if there was any information they wanted to find out, they would have written to the Council of Chiefs or, at least, find out from the Council of Chiefs and hear their explanation before taking to the street in protest but this was not done.
“Our appeal is to the Youth to sheath their sword. I appeal to them to obey the law of the Nation”.
By: Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso
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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.