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Rivers APC Alleges Plot To Transfer CP …Hails Amaechi Over Security Award
Chairman, Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, Senator Mohammed Magoro (left), receiving copies of White Paper on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Alakyo killings in Lafia, recently.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has raised the alarm over alleged plans by the Presidency to transfer the State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, just at a time he is beginning to settle down in the State.
“We are reliably informed that arrangements have been concluded by the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to redeploy Ogunsakin barley three months after his transfer to Rivers State just because he has refused to play their deadly politics since he assumed office and instead demonstrated that he is a core Police Officer.
“We will like to reiterate that we resist the transfer of Ogunsakin through every legal means available to us. We need peace in Rivers State and the current commissioner of police has demonstrated that he is thorough police officer and we are okay with his efforts to sustain the peace in Rivers State.
“We don’t need another Mbu an obvious PDP member in Rivers State to take us back to the terrible route we only survived by the grace of God”, APC State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday.
APC in the statement commended Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the extra mile his administration has gone to drastically improve the security situation in the state and congratulated him for winning the 2014 Best Governor on Security in Nigeria Award by the organisers of the Nigeria Security Profile Award (NISPA).
“This is an award well deserved considering Governor Amaechi’s giant strides in the area of security,” Rivers APC said.
The party recalled that as at the time Amaechi assumed office as governor in 2007, the state capital, Port Harcourt, was a war zone where only the fittest survived.
According to APC, “The Port Harcourt that Amaechi inherited was more like a jungle where the fittest determined the fate of lesser animals. The once glamorous city was ranked among the four most dangerous cities in the world as at that time.
“The human resources unit of New York-based Marsh & McLennan Cos. had ranked Port Harcourt with Baghdad, Yemen’s capital of Sana’a and Khartoum in Sudan, as the world’s most dangerous cities.
“Going by the ranking published by Bloomberg, Port Harcourt ranked with Baghdad as one of the world’s most dangerous cities for foreign workers as criminal gangs and militia groups seeking greater control of energy revenue stepped up attacks.
“For Amaechi to have rescued Rivers State from the menace of militancy demonstrates that he is a leader ahead of his peers, so NISPA is well justified to bestow this award on a well deserved recipient.”
APC advised the Federal Government to humbly understudy Amaechi and borrow from his methods and tactics so as to check the frightening rate of insecurity in the country.
As explained by the party, “To achieve the peace in Rivers State, Amaechi apart from motivating the security organs in the State also ensured that they are properly trained and have the best modern security gadgets with which to do their work. As a result, throughout the year 2012 there was no single kidnapping or armed attack in any part of Rivers State.
“For the administration of President Jonathan to demonstrate its disdain for the peace in Rivers State, Joseph Mbu and misguided Nyesom Wike, the supervising minister of education, were unleashed on the state to ensure that Port Harcourt is taken back to its pre-2007 era when it was ranked as one of the deadliest cities to stay, but we thank God for giving Amaechi the wisdom to handle the situation and for sending Ogunsakin to correct the mess created by Mbu.”
Rivers APC appealed to the Jonathan administration to swallow its pride and listen to Governor Amaechi and others who have proffered workable solutions to the worsening menace of Boko Haram.
“The Boko Haram insurgency is worsening by the day because of the blatant refusal by the visionless leadership at the centre to learn from Amaechi.
“They have continued to portray themselves as confused lots, with the President and his wife fighting for recognition over who is fighting the menace of Boko Haram by setting up two different Committees on the same issue,” Rivers APC said.
It recalled that Governor Amaechi had during the event instituting Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital for 2014 identified education and vigorous promotion of agriculture as the sure way to tackle the Boko Haram challenge and enhance security in Nigeria.
Rivers APC also advised the Federal Government to listen to the wise counsel of people like Amaechi on the issue of State Policing. According to the party, “As Amaechi recently did point out, most states are spending a lot of money improving the police which are not under their control. States can use the same resources to fund their own police. Only those with something to hide are afraid of State Police.”
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