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Hurricane APC Sweeps Opobo/Nkoro LGA …As Over 7,000 Cross Over From PDP
The gale of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Rivers State has taken a frightening dimension as virtually the entire populations of Opobo and Nkoro gathered at the Primary School field, Opobo Town with their symbolic brooms and declared their switch over from PDP to the APC.
As early 9 am last Thursday the Primary School field, Opobo Town had been adorned with canopies and various decorations, and occupied by indigenes of Opobo and Nkoro representing the various strata of the society, including traditional chiefs, professionals, politicians, and the general populace.
By the time the event kicked off at noon, it had become obvious that the field could hardly hold the surging population growing by the minutes. As the crowed surged, holding their symbolic broom of the APC, traditional drumming rented the air from the stands of the 11 wards that make up the LGA.
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Council, Hon. Maclean Uranta said that the decision of the people of the LGA to move en mass to APC was as a result of PDP’s betrayal and high-handedness.
Uranta declared that the people of the LGA were grateful to the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi for the giant developmental strides he has established all over the LGA.
“The governor has brought us development at every sphere of life. Today over 15 of our sons and daughters are in schools abroad studying in various disciplines; the governor has put in place real development that the eye can see across our LGA,” Uranta stated.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the occasion include the member, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Dakuku Adol Peterside.
In his speech, Hon. Peterside catalogued the indignities, mischiefs and undemocratic actions of the PDP towards the state chief executive and prominent sons of the area.
“I am convinced that you have gathered here out of your own volition to join the APC in support of your darling Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who has made it possible today for Nkoro people to drive home in the past 2 years; I believe that you are moving with the governor to the APC because you see the schools, hospitals, sand filling, shore protection projects at Queens Town and Kalama and other developmental projects across the LGA,” the lawmaker said.
Others who took turns to speak at the occasion include the former deputy national chairman of the PDP who is now a member of APC, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, the Commissioner in the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Engr Idatonye Accra Jaja, the Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, amongst others.
However, the highlight of the occasion was the speech and handing over of the APC flags to each ward through their councillors by the Interim State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
Ikanya, who was joined by other state interim executive members on the stage, electrified the audience with his speech, likening the movement to APC to the abandoning of a bad vehicle (PDP) to join a sound vehicle (APC) in order to successfully complete the journey.
He thanked the people of Opobo/Nkoro for their unanimous decision to join the APC in line with the decision of their leaders and the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The arrival of the governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru further activated the audience who became almost uncontrollable.
Ikuru thanked the people for their support for the governor as shown by their collective decision to follow him to the APC, and enjoined all to support and work for the success of the APC in future elections.
“By moving over to the APC, you are demonstrating your belief in your leaders because you trust them. I thank you all, and urge you to continue to remain steadfast as we change our vehicle in order to get to our destination,” the deputy governor said.
A member of the Rivers State Executive Council, and Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, who is also an indigene of Opobo, was in attendance, amongst other dignitaries from across the state.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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