Rivers

‘Fubara Using Rivers Resources For Dev’

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2024

The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr. Enyiada CookeyGam has said the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is using the State’s resources and funds to aggressively develop the people and the rural communities.
He noted that the emphasis is currently in areas where such development had eluded the people since the inception of democratic rule 25 years ago.
Speaking with newsmen in Port-Harcourt on the rumour that instead of using state funds and resources to develop the people, the Governor is using the resources to recruit hoodlums and bombers, the CTC boss said it is untrue and baseless.
CookeyGam, who debunked the rumour, said it was the opposite, and that the Governor was effectively utilising state resources to build roads in the rural areas abandoned by successive administrations to the detriment of the masses.
He explained that the Governor, apart from building roads and other infrastructural transformation in the state, also cleared huge debt of salaries and its arrears owed Rivers workers, retirees, and also promoted Civil Servants in the state.
He continued to say that the Governor has also been empowering Rivers youths, women, the less privileged in the state, among others, via skills acquisition programmes for them to be selfreliant in various fields of endeavour, noting also rhat over N4billion was released for disbursement.
“The truth is that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never misused or tampered with state funds and material resources on meaningless jamboree. Rather, his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, used state resources and funds to donate to the northern and other states in his quest to become the running mate to the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in order to woo the northerners and others for support, to become Vice President that failed to see the light of the day”, he said.
He stressed that the former Governor doled out a whopping sum of N500 million as part of his support to Sokoto state market inferno under the administration of Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as Governor.
“Nyesom Wike was the one that had misused our resources to support other states, and deadly activities while Rivers people are dying of hunger, hardship, poverty and deaths.
“It is on record that for the past eight years, Rivers State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was at N12 billion, but as of today, the amount has drastically changed from N12 billion to over N28 billion, meaning that the dispensation rough-handled our resources and funds to stupor.
“As far as we are concerned, the people’s Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, remains the political hero and leader of Rivers State.
“We need Godly leaders like Siminalayi Fubara, who stands by his word in the morning, afternoon and night. God brought him to clean the development and political mess of the Nyesom Wike – led administration in the last eight years of dictatorial governance”, he stated.
Dr.CookeyGam, a grassroots mobiliser and political gladiator in the LGA, called on the Governor’s detractors, such as the factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, and other Abuja-based sponsors to “desist forthwith from negative and unfounded bias and rantings against the Governor”.
He warned Okocha to “concentrate on his representation of the people well on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where he is expected to drag viable, people-oriented development projects and programmes for those he claimed to represent.
“Since Tony Okocha became member on the Board of the NDDC, he has not been able to attract tangible development projects and programmes to the state, talkless of scholarships, grants, and other empowerment largesse to both the students and youths”.
Dr. CookeyGam warned that any attempt to distract Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his quest to build bridges of “human-faced” development for the people will be revisited.
“Enough is enough of such irrelevant, irresponsible and unjustifiable rascality. When all Rivers people are expected to join forces to work with the present government to move the state forward developmentally, Tony Okocha and his Abuja connections are busy misleading their followers on make-belief destructive politics that would do nobody any good”, he concluded.

Bethel Toby

Rivers

Delta CP Seeks More Support From Traditional Institutions

Published

4 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.

Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.

He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.

“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.

“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.

In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.

The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.

Rivers

IAUE Senate Approves Leadership, Language Center Establishment

Published

4 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.

It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.

Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.

The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.

It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..

The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.

Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”

In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.

He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.

Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .

In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.

Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.

Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Rivers

Group Tasks School Proprietors, Parents On Early Preparation

Published

4 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.

Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.

“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.

He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.

According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.

Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.

Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.

The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.

He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.

On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.

Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.

They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.

King Onunwor