News
We Joined APC To Better Nigeria’s Future – Amaechi
President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr Bala Ka’oje, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Kunle Wahab and Director, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Sani Gidado, at the 3rd Annual Professionals’ Summit in Abuja, recently.
Photo: NAN
Governor Chibuike Amaechi says the decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) was borne out of developing Nigeria and correcting the mistakes of the past.
Amaechi made the clarification when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources paid him a courtesy visit last Monday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
He therefore called on those who were yet to join them to do so, saying, “the earlier, the better becuase the reason for going there is basically we stand to change the course of development in Nigeria.
“We think we should move forward so that this country cannot continue to suffer what it has been suffering,” he pointed out.
Amaechi had at a special dinner and award night to mark Port Harcourt City’s centenary celebrations last weekend told a gathering of former governors and military administrators of Rivers State that he defected from the PDP to APC because the state had not benefitted from the 2.1 million votes it contributed to President Jonathan’s election in 2011.
“The reason for the disagreement between us and our former party (PDP) is that as we speak, if you go to Soku that you governed, it used to belong to Rivers State. As I am talking to you today, Soku belongs to Bayelsa State. They took the oil wells; they took everything and left the human beings for us.
“As Governor of Rivers State, I accepted the mandate. Not under my watch will I surrender what the people have given me in trust. I ask the people of Kalabari; what will I tell your unborn children that I, Amaechi ceded Soku to Bayelsa? And I said I would fight that cause to the end.
“I am not running for any other election; I am almost finishing my tenure. I will stick out my neck and fight until we recover Soku land back to Rivers State. That is one reason we are leaving PDP to APC where we think that our interests will be well protected.
“Another reason for which we are leaving PDP to APC is that the oil wells in Omuma Local Government Area have been ceded to Abia State. No letter was written to us; no boundary adjustment.
“They didn’t tell us to come and defend any boundary disagreement. We just woke up one day and they wrote us a letter that the following oil wells in Rivers State had been ceded to Abia State. No reason was given to us; we protested, yet no answer. But we are in court.
“All that is happening under the watch of our current president, who grew up in Port Harcourt. But when we protest, they get angry,” he said.
Amaechi also decried the absence of federal government projects in the state.
“I asked Mr. President: Rivers State gave you two million votes, mention the projects that you have given to Rivers State. We listened to the President’s speech, the day he came for the centenary.
“He said we are building a skills acquisition centre for N15 billion. That skills acquisition centre was between me and (the late President) Yar’Adua. He asked me what we could do to reduce the crime in Rivers State and I told him, Sir, that crime is not based on ethnicity, it is based on hunger.
“If we can train them and get them employed, it will reduce crime. I said skills acquisition will be the best and he said, fine go and build a skills acquisition centre.
“I think then, it was N5 billion and now, I hear them saying N15 billion. Rivers indigenes were awarded the contracts; the contracts were cancelled and now re-awarded to Bayelsa indigenes.
“But the president (Jonathan) said that was the project he sited in Rivers State. It was the late President Yar’Adua that initiated the project. President Jonathan only inherited it before it was abandoned. So now that the president has mentioned it, we want him to complete it,” he said.
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi