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APC Chieftain Flays Community Protest Over Missing Youth Leaders

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Mr Tony Okocha, has flayed the protest in his Rumuigbo Community over his alleged involvement in the missing of some community youth leaders.
Okocha, who is the State Representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), spoke at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The Tide’s source, recalls that the people of Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on October 28 embarked on a protest over the reported disappearance of two youth leaders in the community.
According to the protesters, the missing youth leaders were the President-General of Ekinigbo Youths, Bobby Ezekiel, and President of Nkpolu Community Youths, Chamberlain Owhonda.
The protesters claimed that the missing youth leaders, alongside other persons from the community, went to the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to respond to a petition against them but never returned.
The Head of Nkpolu Community, Mr Ezekiel Ogwutum, who led the protest, alleged that Okocha and his allies were responsible for the disappearance of the youth leaders.
In a reaction, Okocha described the protest in the community as politically motivated and a ploy to tarnish his reputation.
He denied being a party in the petition to the IGP and wondered how the protesters dragged him into the issue.
The former Chief of Staff to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi expressed sadness that his people did not appreciate his developmental impact in the community, but joined forces with his political enemies to tarnish his image.
“I have never arrested any Rumuigbo person in my whole years of service in the State Government to date.
“Recently, our community got involved in chieftaincy disagreement, which divided the community into two.
“The indices that were thrown up could lead to war but we advised ourselves that we would resolve it peacefully, because we will have no place to call home if the community goes aflame.
“I am not in the petition that took the community to Abuja; I don’t know what they are talking about.
“It is an attempt to malign my character”, Okocha said.
He gave a 14-day ultimatum to the community and Prof. Reginald Amadi, one of the traditional rulers installed by a faction of the community members who, he alleged, led the protest, to apologise to him for character defamation, or be prepared to appear in court.

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Rivers

Youth President Launches N10m Grant For Obio/Akpor Women

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The leader of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Simplified Movement, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, has unveiled a N10 million grant aimed at empowering women in Ward 1 of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Making the announcement during the recently concluded Obio/Akpor Ward 1 town hall meeting, Ihunwo revealed that the grant will be distributed in amounts of N100,000 to 20 women per community, including non-indigenes.
He stated that the gesture is a token of appreciation for the women’s unwavering support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ihunwo emphasised the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that Ward 1, Obio/Akpor LGA, and Rivers State as a whole benefit from good governance.
Special Adviser on Power to the Governor, Hon. Solomon Abel Eke, highlighted the transparency and fairness that define the current leadership of the Obio/Akpor Simplified Movement, assuring that it operates without nepotism or impunity.
During the event, former leader of the Obio/Akpor Legislative Assembly, Hon. Achor Nna, criticised former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, who is also from Ward 1, for actions deemed uncharacteristic of true sons of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Also in attendance at the town hall meeting were Hon. Darlington Orji, Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor of Rivers State, along with other prominent figures as well as other sons and daughters of Obio/Akpor.
They congratulated the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and collectively reaffirmed their support for the Fubara-led administration, underscoring a shared commitment to the progress and development of Rivers State.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

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Rivers

RSG Approves N225bn For Trans-Kalabari Road Project

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The Rivers State Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved N225 billion for the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road project.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Joseph Johnson, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting.
The meeting was presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the state Government House in Port Harcourt.
He said the project would be funded with savings from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
“We shall not borrow to fund the project. We are bent on generating money to fund our projects”, he said.
Johnson stated that the contractor had been mobilised with 30 per cent of the contract, worth to commence implementation.
The commissioner further said the project would be completed within a period of 32 months.
“This is the main Trans-Kalabari Road, the one that happened in the past was building of bridges.
“We are now doing a Trans-Kalabari Road that will run from NSS Pathfinder, immediately after Mgbuodohia community and extend to about 2km to the Aker Base Road in Rumuolumeni”, he said.
He also said the road would pass through the swamps behind the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, moving southwards towards the first bridge crossing.
“It will continue through a series of bridges, connecting many communities up to Tombia Town.
“The road will traverse very difficult terrains of swamp across rivers and creeks upon which series of bridges, decking and piling works will be done”, he said.
The Commissioner further said the state recently recorded some giant strides in the sporting sector.
Also briefing, the Acting Director-General, Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Ine Briggs, explained that the bureau diligently managed the proceedings leading to the award of the Trans-Kalabari road contract.
Briggs said the submissions of the state Ministry of Works were reviewed and all the supporting documents examined by the Ministry.
“Having fulfilled all the necessary procurement procedures and guidelines as prescribed by the Rivers State Public Procurement Law 2008 as amended, the Bureau is satisfied that all the elements leading to this award is sufficient to issue a certificate of no objection.
“Therefore, in consideration of all the relevant documents submitted by the Ministry of Works pursuant to the construction of Trans-Kalabari Road and bridges, the Bureau has issued the certificate of no objection, and that the contract be awarded to Lubrick Construction Company Limited”, Briggs said.

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Rivers

Ongoing Elele-Omoku Road Awarded At N80bn – RSG

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Joseph Johnson, has said the ongoing dualisation of the Elele/Umudioga/ Egbeda/Ikiri/Omoku Road was awarded at N80 billion.
Johnson disclosed this in Port Harcourt yesterday while speaking to newsmen on the achievements of the Governor Siminalaye Fubara-led administration after one year in office.
He said the road, which cuts across three Local Government Areas, would facilitate easy movement of people and goods, saying “it will boost cross-community commerce.
“The farming communities along this area will find it easy to move their produce to markets in neighbouring towns.
“This project is a deliberate effort to make movement easy for our people, it’s no politics but service delivery”.
The Commissioner said the State Government had already paid 50 per cent of the contract value amounting to N40 billion.
“We are not paying lip service to governance, we mean business. We want Rivers people to see something new.
“We have devised ways of generating money to fund our projects, we are not indulging in any borrowing festival”, he said.
Analysts say the state capital will be decongested if the government successfully implements the line up of road projects in the state.

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