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Amaechi Tasks Education Boards On Transformation

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Last week in Government House, activities started
on  an inaugurative note.  First was the inauguration of three state-owned tertiary institutions boards – University of  Education, Rivers State College of Health Science and Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori.
The new board was inaugurated by Governor Chibuike Amaechi represented by the secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii.
The governor charged members of the new board to be focused saying that it is your responsibility to produce up to standard and quality so that they can compete comparatively. Amaechi also stressed the need for the board members to rise to the challenge of transforming their institutions.
Further more, he charged them to ensure that the vision the State government in education, in ensuring that the people that come out of there meet the requirement in character and learning.”
Chairman of the new Governing Board of University of Education, Dr Aaron Ikuru responded unbehalf  of other members and assured that they will not fail in their new task of driving the vision of the state government to use quality education to transform the state.
On Tuesday last week,  the governor inaugurated members of the different committee ahead of the mega rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to be held at the new stadium in the Greater Port Harcourt City, Omagwa.
Represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi charged members of the different rally committees to ensure that the goal of the rally was achieved to showcase that the APC does not only exist on billboard, but on the mind of Rivers people.
On the same Tuesday, presidential hopeful and former head of state Gen Muhammadu Buhari visited the state and was received by Governor Chibuike Amaechi. Buhari who disclosed his plans to run for the presidency under the APC platform urged party faithful to keep faith and stay united to ensure the ruling party was voted out.
On his part, Governor Amaechi described Buhari as a statesman whose integrity is not in question. He assured the former head of state that he would soon hear from them and wished him well.
On Thursday, Amaechi retuned to the State and took an unscheduled visit to new stadium at the Greater Port Harcourt City. The complex is scheduled to host over 60,000 persons expected at the state APC mega rally on the 25th.
The governor shortly after inspecting the  40,000 capacity stadium told newsmen in an interview that there was no credible candidate in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting for governorship in next years elections. He added that Rivers people need to vote out the PDP, since the quality of candidates are those that rob the state of its resources.
On the proposed APC mega rally, Amaechi said the event which targets 69,000 APC supporters in the state was designed to showcase the popularity of the party in the state and prove that the APC is not a billboard party as widely speculated by the Presidency.
Later in the evening of Thursday, Govenror Amaechi played host to the students of Defence College led by Brigadier Mohammed Aliyu. They were held to a cocktail dinner as part of their state study tour.
On the same evening, the governor also hosted the Best of Nollywood Award. He lauded the actors and other stakeholders in the film industry for their creativity, urging them to use film to fight against bad governance in the country.

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Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

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The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.
The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.
The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.
“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.
He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.
According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.
He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.
“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.
Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.
He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”
He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.
Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.
“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.
He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.
“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.
He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.
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Oji Clears Air On Appointment Of 15 Special Advisers By Fubara

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The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.

Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.

He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.

According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.

On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.

He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.

Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.

Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.

He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.

The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.

He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.

Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.

 

King Onunwor

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Politics

Rivers Political Crisis: PANDEF Urges Restraint, Mutual Forbearance

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The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for restraint and mutual forbearance over the recent political development in Rivers State.
The Forum has also set up a high level Reconciliation Committee chaired by a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
This is contained in a press statement released in Abuja on Saturday.
The statement was jointly signed by PANDEF’s Board of Trustees Co-Chairmen, Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, and Obong Victor Attah (a former governor of Akwa Ibom State), as well as PANDEF’s National Chairman, Chief Godknows Igali.

 

Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.

“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.

“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.

“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.

The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.

“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.

“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.

PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.

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