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Author: Precious Akutamadu

  • There’s  no consttutional provisions for LG chairmen’s tenure elongation – Fubara

    There’s  no consttutional provisions for LG chairmen’s tenure elongation – Fubara
    Protection
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June 19, 2024(NAN) Gov.  Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers says there is no provision for  tenure elongation  for  elected Local Government Chairmen in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as Amended).
    Fubara made this known while addressing newsmen at the end of a security council meeting with heads of security agencies in Port Harcourt.
    The governor said  that the security council meeting was called because of the  threat to the peace of the state brewing from the tenure expiration of the outgone local government councils chairmen.
    ”We will fearlessly lead the way to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the state while  protecting all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.
    ”The law on local government tenure is unambiguous. The court clearly affirmed the position of the law.
    “The law is the law, there is no extension of the local government tenure in it. The court says so,” he said.
    The govrnor promised to protect his supporters and resist any ”grand plan to arrest” them.
    Fubara thanked the media and the peace-loving people of the state for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the State.
    The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports Fubara directed heads of administration in the 23 local government areas to take over from the elected council chairmen whose three-year tenure elapsed on Monday.

    Fubara gave the directive in a state broadcast on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

    He said the decision ties with the Constitution’s provision and the need to ensure peace and order in the state. Fubara appreciated the efforts and dedication of the council chairmen to public service.

    The police confirmed that the two people were killed in Omuma LGA during a clash.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the killings, said an investigation was ongoing to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.

    Iringe-Koko said in a statement that the two were killed during a bloody clash between supporters of two political groups at the council headquarters.

    She said the police had now occupied the council secretariats to forestall violence.

    The statement reads: “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various local government council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two political factions clashed over the tenure of council chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed.

    “To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the police have taken over all the 23 council secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.

    “Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.

    “While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warns anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.

    “We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    PA/VE/SH

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    Edited by Victor Adeoti/Sadiya Hamza

  • Fubara directs LG Heads of administration to oversee councils 

    Fubara directs LG Heads of administration to oversee councils
    Office
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June, 18, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, on Tuesday, directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAS) to immediately take charge of their councils.
    He said this followed the expiration of the tenure of the 23 local government chairmen on June, 17.
    Fubara gave the directive in a statewide broadcast at Government House in Port Harcourt.
    He commended the dedicated services of the outgoing elected local government chairmen and councillors whose tenure expired after three years of service.
    The governor, on behalf of the state, thanked them for their commitment in serving the state.
    Fubara congratulated them on the completion of their tenure and wished them well in their future endeavours.
    The governor said that he would continue to provide leadership and direction to the people, to ensure that the constitution of the federal republic was upheld, and  law and order maintained.
    “I hereby direct heads of local government administration to continue to provide leadership in their respective LGAs,”he said.
    He directed the heads of LGAs to immediately take charge of the councils with renewed vigor and readiness to serve.
    Fubara urged them to wait for other directives as the state navigated toward greater accomplishments.
    He assured Rivers people that his administration would continue to provide infrastructure development, sound health care delivery,  quality education and undiluted welfare service packages to the people.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    PA/SOA
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    Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

  • Group urges NASS to save Rivers from anarchy

    Group urges NASS to save Rivers from anarchy

    Anarchy
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June 16, 2024 (NAN) A civil society organisation, called the Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy, has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to wade into the crisis in Rivers to save the state from anarchy.

    The group made the call while speaking on the lingering executive-legislature feud in the state during an interactive session with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

    The group’s National President, Mr Igbini Emmanuel, charged NASS to “urgently invoke the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to save Rivers from a complete breakdown of law and order”.

    Emmanuel said that the group was worried about what would happen, when the three-year tenure of the 23 Local Government Councils would end on June 17.

    He said that already, the political tension in the state had heightened between the supporters of Gov. Siminalaye Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike.

    According to hom, the tension, if not urgently and decisively addressed, would pose serious threat to peace and complete breakdown of law and public order across the state.

    “It is sadly an undeniable fact that the state is right now facing grave and imminent danger with both opposing political groups gearing for full blown war on June 17 and days after, the takeover and control of the administration of the
    Local Government councils,” he said.

    Emmanuel said that with the conflicting court judgments and pending suits, relating to the lawful members and leadership of the state Assembly, there existed no legislative organ to make laws for peace, order and good governance of the state as stipulated by Section 4(6) of the Constitution.

    “We are all aware that the majority of the incumbent chairmen of the LG councils have publicly vowed never to exit their positions on June 17, 2024 on the ground that the House of Assembly, led by  Martin Amaewhule, had amended the state LG law mandating the chairmen to continue on their positions, if the council election was not conducted,” Emmanuel said.

    He argued that the above scenario “clearly establishes the undeniable fact that Rivers is facing grave and actual danger”.

    He feared that the peace, security and wellbeing of the people of Rivers may not be guaranteed, if urgent steps were not taken to arrest the situation.

    The group therefore implored NASS “to immediately invoke the doctrine of necessity in Rivers, with a view to preventing the impending breakdown of law and order until such a time the state Assembly was able to resume its functions”.

    It further argued that “by the express provisions of sections 4 and 11(4) of the Constitution, NASS “has the Constitutional power to make laws for the peace, order, good government of the federation or any part thereof and for any state at any time the House of Assembly is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that state”.

    The group called for the setting up of a five-member Interim Management Committee, made up of men and women drawn from the academia, judiciary, religious groups, including professional bodies and non-governmental organisations, for each council.

    It recommended that members of the committee “must be indigenes of the respective local government areas, who are not members of any political party and not known to be supporters or close associates of the governor or his predecessor”.

    The group also recommended that the committee should administer the councils for not more than three months during which local government elections should be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    PA/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah

     

     

  • HYPREP coordinator urges intensified campaign against oil theft, vandalism

    Oil
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, the Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called for intensified campaign against pipeline vandalism oil theft in the country.
    Zabbey made the call in Port Harcourt on Wednesday while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in commemoration of the 2024 World Environment Day.
    He said that oil theft, pipeline vandalism and artisanal refining had become hydra-headed monsters staring the nation’s oil industry in the face.
    Zabbey said that the world environment day was a wake up call on HYPREP’s mission and the ongoing clean up efforts in Ogoni land.
    “The day provides us an opportunity to reflect, design and facilitate approaches to protect our land and commonwealth.
    “It is an opportunity to restore degraded areas and discourage human activities that compromise the integrity of the environment and biodiversity,” he said.
    He said that all hands should be on deck to tackle the challenge of oil pollution occasioned by oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and artisanal refining.
    “We need to all stand up to protect our environment by not polluting it and taking deliberate steps to make it safe,” he said.
    The project coordinator reaffirmed  HYPREP’s commitment towards the remediation and restoration of oil impacted areas in Ogoni.
    “The future of the Ogoni people and the Niger Delta region at large is hugely dependent on their land.
    “HYPREP is equipped to lead the process of protecting the land and environment. So,  a holistic approach is required to address the endemic trends that negatively impact our land.
    “We are remediating degraded lands and shorelines, restoring mangroves, providing potable water and strengthening public health systems,” he said.
    Zabbey said that HYPREP’s approach to community engagement was inclusive, consultative, and participatory.
    “This is because true restoration goes beyond environmental clean-up. We are actively involving local communities in our projects,” he said.
    NAN reports that the theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebration is : “Our land, Our future: Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience”(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    PA/AZU
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    Edited by Azubuike Okeh

  • Tinubu’s first anniversary: APC chieftain urges Nigerians to be hopeful for better years ahead

    Tinubu’s first anniversary: APC chieftain urges Nigerians to be hopeful for better years ahead

    Commendation
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June, 4, 2024 (NAN) The Chairman, Caretaker Committe for Rivers APC, Chief Tony Okocha, has encouraged Nigerians to have hope, be patient and support President Bola Tinubu’s administration to achieve the renewed hope agenda.

    Okocha, who is also the state Representative in the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), gave the advise on Tuesday at a news briefing in Port Harcourt.

    Okocha said that the president during his account of stewardship ordered all the ministers to showcase what they had done to  deliver good governance to the people.

    He said that by that gesture, he merely subjected the ministers to public scrutiny to ensure that the people reaped the dividend of democracy.

    Okocha also commended the president for the reforms and strategic policies put in place to improve the nation’s economy.

    “A lot of reforms and policies that would enhance the economy and human capital development of the country are ongoing,” he said.

    He cited the N50,000 intervention scheme for the minimally advantaged in the country to cushion the effect of inflation in the country.

    Okocha also listed some reforms introduced by the administration through the Central Bank to strengthen the banking sector.

    He also spoke on the successes so far recorded by the current board and management of NDDC within the one year in office of the president.

    Okocha commended the board and management for revolutionising the commission within the first year of their inception.

    “The present management and governing board of the commission have done a lot in terms of developmental projects and human capital development in the region.

    “We have changed the narrative of NDDC from what people thought  about the commission to what it is today.

    “We can attest to the developmental strides achieved within our few months in office.

    “In education we have been able to give scholarships to students as well as provided learning materials, relief materials to communities to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal, built roads and installed solar lights in communities, among others,” Okocha said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    PA/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah

  • We stand on Rivers interest first — Fubara

    We stand on Rivers interest first —  Fubara
    Rivers
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June, 1, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has said that his administration will continue to prioritise the interest of people of the state under the mantra: ‘Rivers First’.
    Fubara made the remark during the praise night organised on Friday by the state government to mark his first year in office, in Port Harcourt,
    The governor, represented by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, solicited the support of the people, in moving the state forward.
    He urged the people  to contribute their quota to assist the administration to achieve its vision of advancing the fortunes of the state.
    The governor prayed that God would continue to move mountains on the path of the state, and make it better.
    Fubara noted with happiness the spiritual ministrations and prophetic declarations by  artistes during the event.
    He said that they were manifestations of the victory which God had sealed in the state.
    “We shall continue to have this shared vision of putting Rivers state first, but we can’t do it alone.
    ‘’We need all of you, big and small, to be there for us, to chip in the little or the much you can, and at the end of this our first tenure, you will see where God will take Rivers state to.”
    Fubara thanked everyone who graced the occasion, especially the artistes, for the performances which included singing and dancing.
    ‘’I think there were spiritual ministrations that they have made, and they have also made prophetic declarations that we all said amen to,” he said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured praise and worship songs in appreciation to God for the first year of Fubara.
    Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the governor’s wife, Lady Valarie  Fubara; former Gov. Peter Odili and his wife, retired Justice Mary Odili; and Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    PA/JEO/SOA
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    Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Oluwole Sogunle