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  • Housing: Rivers working in line with Tinubu’s vision, says Fubara

    Housing: Rivers working in line with Tinubu’s vision, says Fubara

    Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration is working in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu to address the issues of housing affecting low-income earners in the state.

    He said the synergy would reduce the challenges of housing in the country, especially among low and medium-income earners.

    Fubara spoke in Government House, Port Harcourt when he received the management team of the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria (FHAN), led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oyetunde Ojo. 

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, observed that the problem of housing had become a major issue.

    He said the Rivers state government recently kicked off a 20,000-housing-unit project to address the accommodation needs of low-income earners in line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He said: “Let me use this medium to say a big thank you to Mr President. We all know the basic needs of a family: food, clothing and shelter. And in our country today, because of the cost of living, housing has become an issue.

    “It is no longer an issue of medium income earners because medium income earners cannot even afford housing again. So, it is an issue that the government, both at federal and state levels must come together and work together to find a lasting solution. Maybe, we may not completely eradicate the problem, but we can reduce that pressure on the citizens.

    “We are thinking in the same line with Mr President. In our dear state, some months back, we did flag off a 20,000 housing units project, specifically for low-income earners. What is the purpose? How many persons can afford housing in the GRAs? Just a few of us.

    “We need to make provision for our civil servants. We need to make provisions for our traders and taxi drivers. We need to make provision for our teachers and other classes of workers. That is what gave birth to that programme. And I am happy to say today, that the project is ongoing, and there is evidence of seriousness to that.”

    Fubara expressed delight with the purpose of the visit, which he said aligned with the social housing policy of his administration, adding that FHA’s commitment to partner with the state government in providing housing would add to mitigating the plight of the citizens.

    He described the government of President Bola Tinubu as people-oriented, citing the seriousness the FHA attached to ensuring the success of the project in collaboration with his government.

    He said: “I am really happy this evening to receive this delegation from the Federal Housing Authority because even the houses we are providing still won’t solve the problem. So, adding this to what we are already doing, will also help in mitigating the challenges.

    “Your demands are very simple. We have records available which show that lands given to some people have been undeveloped. That will not be the story anymore.

    “We are dealing with a team that has come, made commitments, and already pledged their seriousness, telling us here that they are not interested in just the land, but want even the contractors, who must be indigenous people from Rivers State, to be part of the project. They didn’t even end there.

    “They are also saying that this project, they want to do it in such a way that they want the state to support off-takers. What else does anybody need to show that this Federal Government is people-oriented,” he said.

    “I want to assure you that we will, as a Government, and as the head of the State Government, I will call the team that is concerned: the Permanent Secretary of Lands, and the Commissioner for Housing, they are going to meet with you, assess areas that are still undeveloped, and you make your choice and commence work.

    “You said something very interesting. It’s not just building housing for the sake of building, but building in such a way that will consider the income of the would-be occupiers. It means you have the people at heart.

    “You are not just embarking on the project as a white elephant project, you are not just embarking on the project because you want to come and flag off the project or commission it, you are interested in the end product. It shows seriousness, and that is our motto. As a Government, the few things that we are doing, we are interested in ending well, and people see the purpose and the usefulness of our projects.

    “So, I want to assure you, that we will give you all the necessary support. Our message to Mr President is that: we are going to own the project, and we will see that it succeeds so that it will also be a legacy for him in our dear State.”

    Earlier, the Managing Director/CEO of Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria, Oyetunde Ojo, said they were at the Government House to intimate the governor Mr President’s mandate to the authority to provide affordable housing to Nigerians as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Ojo, who noted the strategic position of Rivers State in the country, solicited partnership in making available land to enable the authority to fulfil its mandate of providing affordable housing to the people.

    He said: “We are here for two reasons: to pay a courtesy visit and to intimate you on the mandate of Mr President given to the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria to provide affordable housing to Nigerians. In the Renewed Hope Agenda, we all know that housing is a specified area in which Mr President really talked.

    Read Also: 75% of Rivers primary schools have no teachers, 90% dilapidated, says Fubara

    “Right now in Nigeria, we are lacking shelter seriously. And I say, it’s not only about lacking shelter, it’s about being affordable. And what is affordable? It is what the low-income earners can really purchase and afford.

    “Your Excellency, you all know the position of Rivers State in this country. After Abuja is the capital city, Lagos and Rivers are two major economic hubs of Nigeria which nobody can downplay in this country.

    “And by so doing, we in Federal Housing Authority have decided to take a position, and what is our position of coming here today? The land is vested in your authority as the owner of the land in the State. It’s one thing that you give us the land and we go to Abuja and do a design.

    “In our own tenure, we want a scenario where we have a partnership, not just collecting land, but also sitting down with your team in designing what you think is suitable with your own people. The houses will be designed and tailored towards the needs of the residents and people of Rivers State.”

  • 75% of Rivers primary schools have no teachers, 90% dilapidated, says Fubara

    75% of Rivers primary schools have no teachers, 90% dilapidated, says Fubara

    • Primary health care system not functional, governor insists

    Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has raised the alarm that 75 per cent of primary schools do not have teachers, while 90 per cent are dilapidated.

    Sir Fubara, who described the condition of primary schools as troubling, said his administration was focused on turning around the fortunes of education, health and agriculture.

    The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said he became aware of the deplorable state of the primary schools when a firm, New Global, visited the state for partnership.

    He said the firm came to partner his administration to enhance the capacity of teachers, but he asked them to perform field assessment of the personnel that they intended to train.

    Fubara said the report from the field was very disappointing because the firm did not find the number of teachers to undergo the training for the benefit of Rivers’ children.

    The governor emphasised the crucial place primary school system occupied in the educational journey of any child in shaping the character, instilling essential skills and fostering quest for learning, saying it was ignored in the past.

    Read Also; Paris 2024: Amusan, Brume may each win amazing N62.2 million

    Fubara said his administration had its focus on education, health and agriculture sectors to change the ills identified in the system.

    He said: “It will surprise you to note that an agency came to Rivers State. They call them ‘New Global’, and they were willing to spend $5million. It is not for infrastructure, but to train our teachers, to provide software and other things to improve the learning process at the primary school level.

    “I told them to go round and assess primary schools in the state. After their assessment, you won’t believe it that 75 per cent of our primary schools have no teachers. Ninety per cent of the schools are dilapidated.

    “So, how will you now put in the $5million? So, when I said education, I really mean education. It’s not education where we renovate schools and call people for inauguration.

    “We are talking about touching what is important, because, for us to develop as a society, for us to get it right from the foundation, it is at the primary school level.

    “If we don’t have that aspect right as a foundation to preparing our youths as the leaders of tomorrow, then, we have lost it.”

    The governor noted that tertiary health institutions were overstretched because the primary and secondary health facilities were not functional.

    He said in the coming days, the five zonal hospitals would be revisited so that they could become operational to expand health care services available to the people.

    He said: “The only health facilities that are functional in this State are Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), and maybe, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

    “The other aspects of the health care system that should be functioning are the primary and secondary health care. We have to do everything within our power to make sure they function.

    “Now, you see, there is so much pressure because the primary health care centres have a limit of what they can attend to. So, the pressure is always with the tertiary institutions, what you call the teaching hospitals.

    “We have already taken it upon ourselves, by the special grace of God, in the next one or two weeks, we are going to make sure we revisit the five zonal hospitals in the state to make sure they function.

    “Now, when they function, they will give support to the primary health care centres. A lot of people die because of minor illnesses and unavailability of health centres, not well-equipped with qualified personnel. So, we know it is important.

    “It might not be something people are seeing, but those are the key things to development and the things that people need, and to prove that, yes, we have a functional government”.

    Fubara said there was already so much work ongoing to revamp some agricultural facilities, and make the sector attractive in order to guarantee food sufficiency and create employment for youths.

    He said: “You already know what we are doing and what we are trying to do in the aspect of agriculture. God being on our side, it will work and work well for everyone of us”.

    On reviving moribund state-owned industries, the governor said: “We know that the only way we can combat crime is to provide employment. I don’t think any criminal feels happy when he is enjoying his money. This is because he does so in hiding. He does it with fear.

    “When you have a legitimate means of livelihood, even if it’s N10,000 that you are making, you enjoy it happily without fear. I know a lot of people want that.

    “We will visit those areas to see what we can get out of it so that employment will be, at least, more for those our unemployed youths who by virtue of having nothing to do, end up resorting to crime as the only way out.”

    Acknowledging their feat in successful completion of the Ramadan fasting, the governor thanked the Muslim community for their prayers and support to his administration.

    He noted with delight their efforts at coordinating, mediating and ensuring a reduction to the minimum, incidence of farmers-herders’ clash in the state.

    He said his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for them to practise their faith and other endeavours that positively impact on the development of the state, while promoting peace.

    The leader of the delegation and Vice-President-General, Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, thanked Fubara for his financial support that enabled them to participate in Hajj last year, “and his inclusive policy that has given the community a sense of belonging.”

    Alhaji Uhor, who said the Muslim community would not relent in partnering the governor and his administration, emphasised that they were behind him and approved of his people-oriented policies and programmes.

  • 75% of Rivers primary schools have no teachers, 90% dilapidated, says Fubara

    75% of Rivers primary schools have no teachers, 90% dilapidated, says Fubara

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has raised the alarm that 75 per cent of primary schools in the State do not have teachers while 90 per cent are dilapidated.

    Fubara, who described the condition of primary schools as troubling, said his administration was focused on turning around the fortunes of education, health and agriculture in the state.

    The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, explained that he became aware of the deplorable state of the primary schools when a firm, New Global, visited the state for partnership.

    He said the firm came to partner with his administration to enhance the capacity of teachers, but he asked them to perform field assessment of the personnel that they intended to train.

    Fubara said the report from the field was very disappointing because the firm did not find the number of teachers to undergo the training for the benefit of Rivers’ children.

    The governor emphasised the crucial place primary school system occupied in the educational journey of any child in shaping the character, instilling essential skills, and fostering quest for learning, saying it was obviously ignored in the past.

    Fubara, however, emphasised that his administration, had its focus firmly on education, health and agriculture sectors to change the ills identified in the system.

    Fubara said: “It will surprise you to note that an agency came to Rivers State. They call them ‘New Global’, and they were willing to spend $5million. It is not for infrastructure but to train our teachers, to provide softwares and other things to improve the learning process at the primary level.

    “I told them to go round and assess the primary schools in the state. After their assessment, you won’t believe it that 75 percent of our primary schools have no teachers. 90 percent of the schools are dilapidated.

    “So, how will you now put in the $5million? So, when I said education, I really mean education. It’s not education where we renovate schools, and call people for commissioning.

    “We are talking about touching what is important, because, for us to develop as a society, for us to get it right from the foundation, it is at the primary school level.

    “If we don’t have that aspect right as a foundation to preparing our youths as the leaders of tomorrow, then, we have lost it,” he added.

    The governor also noted that the tertiary health institutions in the state was overstretched because the primary and secondary health facilities were not functional.

    Fubara said that in the coming days, the five zonal hospitals would  be revisited so that they could become operational to expand healthcare services available to the people.

    He said: “The only health facilities that are functional in this State are the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), and maybe, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

    “The other aspects of the healthcare system that should be functioning are the primary and secondary healthcare. We have to do everything that is within our power to make sure that they function.

    “Now, you see, there is so much pressure because the primary healthcare centres have a limit of what they can attend to. So, the pressure is always with the tertiary institutions, what you call the teaching hospitals.

    “We have already taken it upon ourselves, by the special grace of God, in the next one or two weeks, we are going to make sure that we revisit the five zonal hospitals in the state to make sure that they function.

    “Now, when they function, they will give support to the primary healthcare centres. A lot of people die because of minor illnesses and unavailability of health centres, not well-equipped with qualified personnel. So, we know it is important.

    “It might not be something people are seeing, but those are the key things to development and the things that people need, and to prove that, yes, we have a functional government”.

    Fubara said there was already so much work ongoing to revamp some agricultural facilities, and make the sector attractive in order to guarantee food sufficiency and create employment for the youths.

    He said: “You already know what we are doing and what we are trying to do in the aspect of agriculture. God being on our side, it will work and work well for everyone of us”.

    On reviving moribund state-owned industries, the governor said: “We know that the only way we can combat crime is providing employment. I don’t think any criminal feels happy when he is enjoying his money. This is because he does so in hiding. He does it with fear.

    “When you have a legitimate means of livelihood, even if it’s N10,000 that you are making, you enjoy it happily without fear. I know a lot of people want that.

    “We will visit those areas to see what we can get out of it so that employment will be, at least, more for those our unemployed youths who by virtue of having nothing to do, end up resorting to crime as the only way out.”

    While acknowledging their feat in successful completion of the Ramadan fasting,  Fubara thanked the Muslim community for their prayers and support to his administration.

    The Governor noted with delight their efforts at coordinating, mediating and ensuring a reduction to the minimum incidences of farmers-herders’ clashes in the State.

    He assured that his administration would continue to create the enabling environment for them to practice their faith and other endeavours that positively impact on the development of the state while promoting peace.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Fitr: Fubara, police sue for unity, peace in Rivers

    Leader of the delegation and Vice-President-General, Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, thanked Fubara for his financial support that enabled them to participate in Hajj last year, and his inclusive policy that has given the community a sense of belonging.

     Uhor, who assured that the Muslim community would not relent in partnering with the Governor and his government, emphasised that they were solidly behind him, and approve of his people-oriented policies and programmes.

    He also condemned activities of those, who wanted to truncate the administration with impeachment threats on the Governor and persecution of his Chief of Staff, Dr Edison Ehie.

  • I will continue to frustrate attempts to promote crisis in Rivers, says Fubara

    I will continue to frustrate attempts to promote crisis in Rivers, says Fubara

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has vowed to continue to resist plots by disgruntled persons to plunge the state into endless crisis.

    Fubara said already, peace had prevailed in the state because he drew strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him.

    The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said his stance for peace had created the enabling atmosphere for investments and sustainable development to flourish.

    Fubara spoke when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated (BGMAII) Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    The gyovernor, who was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, said most people took his meekness for weakness.

    But he said his stance for peace had enhanced harmonious atmosphere in the state as residents were sleeping with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders were happy with the returns on their investments.

    He said: “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?

    “But now the Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.  

    “We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”

    Read Also: Eid-el-Fitr: Fubara, police sue for unity, peace in Rivers

    Fubara urged stakeholders to continue to pray for the state and the government to put the enemies of the state in shame.

    He said: “This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.

    “When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.

    He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness. 

    “When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God. 

    “You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State”.

    In his address, the leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House.

    He assured the governor that God would continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers state.

    He said: “It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing. 

    “Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State”.

  • My administration won’t hound opposition, says Fubara

    My administration won’t hound opposition, says Fubara

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has assured that his administration will not persecute opposition political parties for criticising him.

    The Governor asked such parties to freely criticise and engage his administration to offer credible opposition in the state.

    Fubara noted that opposition political parties had already acknowledged that elections were over and resolved to offer effective support required to advance good governance in the State.

    The Governor spoke on Monday when he hosted the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Rivers Chapter led by its Chairman, Sensei Solsuema Osaro, at Government House in Port Harcourt.

    Fubara in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, urged people to freely voice their opinions without intimidation.

    He said: “So, we are happy to identify with you. We are assuring you, even when you leave here, criticise me, I don’t have problem with that, it is meant to spur me to do well. We will continue to give you the freedom. We will not cage anybody. We will not revoke your property. 

    “You can also take my message to your National Secretariat, we will continue to stand on the right path. We will support them because we can see that they are also doing what is right. Anytime they need our support, let them feel free to ask for it,” 

    Fubara commended IPAC for identifying with his administration and pledged to work with them for the good of the people. 

    He said no person, who truly loved Rivers would gladly want to burn down the state to achieve personal or political agenda.

    He said whatever political strength anybody claimed  to have amounted  to nothing without the state and its people.

    Fubara assured that his team in government would steadily work, genuinely, to protect the interest of the state.

    While thanking the delegation for the vote of confidence passed on him and his investiture as their Grand Patron, Fubara urged them to tread the path of peace in their activities.

    The Governor promised to consult with them and include their interest in time of appointments and promised to donate a utility vehicle to enhance their logistics. 

    Osaro said the council   passed a vote of confidence on him.

    He also announced the decision of IPAC to honour the governor as the Grand Patron and Leader of the umbrella body of all political parties in the State.

    He said: “IPAC is a roundtable of political parties saddled with the responsibility of enlightenment, advocacy, educating, and inspiring courage among political parties and the society at large. 

    “With the elections come and gone, it is practically the time for governance and to ensure all derivables of dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State. 

    Read Also: Fubara storms PDP National Secretariat over Rivers PDP CTC list

    “Herein lies the core of our visit today to forge a collaborative bond with you, His Excellency, to foster partnership for the overall interest of Rivers State. 

    “We heartily congratulate you on your victory at Supreme Court judgement, which affirmed your election at the polls. To this end, we in IPAC have passed a vote of confidence on His Excellency, and assure you of our collaborative, collective and individual support to succeed now, and in the course of your administration, and after”.

    More than 17 state chairmen of registered political parties in the State were in the delegation to pay a solidarity visit to the Governor. 

  • Fubara storms PDP National Secretariat over Rivers PDP CTC list

    Fubara storms PDP National Secretariat over Rivers PDP CTC list

    • Claims NWC has rejected ‘fake list’

    Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has taken his protest over alleged fake list of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee members in the state to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

    Fubara had first kicked over the list moments after it was made public by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), branding it the handiwork of cheap publicity seekers and agents of crisis.

    The governor is currently not on good terms with his immediate predecessor Nyesom Wike whose loyalists appear to dominate the disputed list.

    Not satisfied with protesting in the state capital, Port Harcourt, Fubara left for Abuja on Thursday to physically present his case to the party’s national leadership for redress.

    Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, confirmed the meeting between Fubara and some members of the NWC.

    The governor was quoted as saying after the meeting that the NWC dismissed the list as fake and restated the resolutions of a meeting between the NWC and PDP governors in March.

    He said the main resolution of the March meeting was that at the expiration of the tenure of the executive committees in the various states, the members should transform into caretaker committees for the next three months without changing their compositions.

    Fubara insisted that Rivers would abide by the decision that the executive officers whose tenure expired in March should remain in office for three months pending the conduct of fresh congresses.

     He cited a March 27, 2024 letter said to have been signed by the National Organising Secretary, Umar M. Bature, and addressed to the Chairman, Rivers State Caretaker Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aaron Chukwuemeka.

    Quoting from the letter entitled, Approval of Wards, Local Government Area and State Caretaker Committee Members for Rivers State, he said: “Following the expiration of the elected Ward, LGA, and State Executive Members in Rivers State, the National Working Committee (NWC), pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 (2) (b) of the Constitution of our Party, has, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) approved the appointment of the expired Excos as Caretaker Committee Members.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, attached to this letter is the authentic list of the Caretaker Committee Members in Rivers State. These Caretaker Committees shall run the affairs of our Party at their appropriate levels for a period of three (3) months effective from the dates of their expiration, i.e.  March 14, 18, 21, 2024 for Wards, LGA, and State, respectively. 

    “Please note that the NWC equally approved that anywhere vacancies have occurred due to death, removal, resignation, or defection, such vacancies shall not be filled.

    “While thanking you for your continuous commitment, please accept the assurances of the NWC’s highest regards.”

     Copies of the letter went to the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum; Deputy National Chairman, South, His Excellency, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and National Legal Adviser, Ajibade Kamaldeen Adeyemi, SAN.

    Fubara vowed that no amount of intimidation, clandestine moves, wasteful lobbying and needless expenditure of public funds would change the position already taken.

    Read Also: Wike’s monarch, leader, councillors declare support for Fubara

    The governor said that the list purported to be members of the Caretaker Committees of the party in the state was only the imagination of its purveyors, and advised those whose names were removed from  the list and the public to ignore it in its entirety.

    He said that the party did not at any time remove or replace the names of officers whose tenure had been officially extended for three months, pending possible National Executive Committee ratification on April 18.

    Fubara insisted that what was published on Thursday was not only fake, concocted and manipulated to suit the desperate ambitions of enemies of the state and its people, but also a deliberate attempt to provoke members and cause discord in the party.

    He said the list was the handiwork of politicians, who were spending public funds to cause unnecessary tension, anxiety and friction in the polity, and also distract the government from the real task of governance.

    The governor urged the elected officers of the party at ward, local government and state levels whose names were removed and replaced with fictitious names to remain calm and go about their legitimate duties as officers of the party.

  • Wike’s monarch, leader, councillors declare support for Fubara

    Wike’s monarch, leader, councillors declare support for Fubara

    The Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, has pledged support and loyalty for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    Eze Wodo is the paramount ruler of the traditional stool and clan of the former Governor and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, in Obio/Akpor.

    Others, who declared their loyalty in the ongoing realignment of political interest following the crisis rocking the state were the Leader of Ahoada East Legislative Assembly,  ThankGod Bernard Unwhe and seven councillors

    A statement by Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said the Eze Oha Apara made the commitment when he paid a solidarity visit to Fubara at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    He also pledged the support and loyalty of the entire Apara people in Obio/Akpor to the Governor and the Government of Rivers State.

    The monarch promised that his people will work assiduously to ensure the success of the Administration of Governor Fubara.

    He said that the governor’s commitment to place priority on enduring peace of the state over and above personal interest was the elixir needed to propel the state to greater heights in transformative and sustainable development.

    Eze Wodo insisted that the state needed peace to accelerate inclusive development in all sectors of the economy.

    He stressed that only those, who did not wish the state well would promote discord to distract the government from delivering on its mandate to the people.

    While welcoming the monarch to Government House, Fubara assured him of the deliberate policy of his administration to respect traditional institutions and elders and carry all Rivers men and women along in the implementation of its policies and programmes.

    He said that the doors of Government House were open to all those, who loved peace and development of the state.

    Read Also: Don’t dare me, Fubara warns detractors

    Also the leader and councilors declared their total support and loyalty to the governor.

    The statement said by their action, the councillors, representing eight electoral wards in the 13-ward LGA, had finally joined to declare commitment to mobilise their supporters to key into the governor’s policies and programmes.

    All eight councillors were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and were also top leaders of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) before they took the decision to join and rally behind the SIMplified Movement in the interest of the state.

    The eight councillors made their position known during a crucial meeting presided over by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Edison Ehie, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

    The councillors, who spoke separately during the meeting, said their action was voluntary and necessary to ensure that the people in their various communities were not left behind in the wind of change blowing across the 23 LGAs of the state. 

    On the issue of who should be the leader of the party in the state, they said:  “As provided by the Constitution of our party, the governor of the state at any given point in time is the leader of the party. Not only the PDP. 

    “Even other parties have the same rule. Therefore, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as Governor of the State, remains the leader of PDP and number one citizen of the state.”

    They said the people could only enjoy the benefits of liberation in the SIMplified Family because everybody had equal opportunities to participate freely in socio-economic and political activities without harassment and intimidation.

    Responding, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edison Ehie, who hails from the same local government area, encouraged the eight new members of the SIMplified Movement to remain steadfast and resolute in their support for the Governor.

    He assured them of the governor’s determination to carry everybody along, saying that Rivers people had nothing to worry about as his Administration would not renege on any of his campaign promises. 

    Besides Unwhe, the other seven councillors are Ogenma Idalunimulu for Ward 6; Beatrice Abraham representing Ward 1;  Bright Uwandu representing Ward 2;  Princewill Aguiyi for Ward 4; H Livingstone Alali for Ward 9; Bob Ololube for Ward 12 and  Edi Chituru representing Ward 13.

  • Don’t dare me, Fubara warns detractors

    Don’t dare me, Fubara warns detractors

    After few weeks of respite, Rivers State relapsed into an escalated crisis yesterday.

    Embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenged people he described as detractors to dare him and risk the consequences.

    Visibly angry, he fired salvos at his foes, vowing to surprise anyone who may cross the line.

    “It will be fire for fire in Rivers State,” the governor said.

    Fubara reflected on the eight-point peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu between him and Federal CapitalTerritory(FCT) Minister Nyesom 8Wike, saying that his decision to implement the resolutions should not be construed as a sign of weakness.

    The governor vent his anger when he received members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) from the 23 local government areas on a solidarity rally at Government House Gate, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The protracted feud between the governor and his predecessor has polarised the Southsouth state.

    Despite the peace deal initiated by the president, the camps of Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads.

    The resolutions are as follows:

    -All matters instituted in the courts by  Governor Fubara, and his team, in respect of the political crisis in Rivers State, shall be withdrawn immediately

    -All impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly should be dropped immediately

    – The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by the Amaewhule shall be recognised alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP

    -The remuneration and benefits of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the governor of Rivers State shall, henceforth, not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly

    -The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of government.

    – Governor Fubara, shall represent the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.

    – The names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council, who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval,

    – There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the Local Government administration is null and void and shall not be recognised.

    Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders of the state, including former Transport Minister Sekibo Abiye, Celestine Omehia, Austin Opara and Prince Uche Secondus, are supporting the governor.

    Two days ago, Wike, who described the leaders as spent forces, also admitted  a soured relationship between himself and former Governor Peter Odili.

    Ysterday, Secondus,  who is backing Fubara, chided Wike for abusing his benefactors.

    Dare me, risk consequences:

    Fubara, who vowed to surprise anybody those opposing him, maintained that his honest decision to implement the presidential peace was not a sign of weakness.

    The governor said he had been inundated with comments in the media about the implementation of the peace initiative, adding that he only chose to be silent out of maturity and wisdom.

    Fubara clarified that the peace deal initiated was a political solution to the crisis that engulfed the state since October last year, and not a constitution.

    He emphasised that his decision to implement the agreement was solely because of his respect for President Tinubu.

    However, he lamented that other actors have taken his humility and compliance as a sign of weakness.

    Fubara said: “Let me say it here for record purposes. What is happening here in our dear state is somebody who has respect for an elder.

    “Mr. President invited all the parties to Abuja, and came out with a resolution that we should go and implement. That resolution, I am implementing it. It is not a constitutional implementation. It is a political solution to a problem.

    “And I am doing it because of the respect I have for Mr President. But, let me say it here, if that action that I have accepted to take would be seen as a weakness, I will surprise them. I want this message to go to them.”

    Hailing the workers for their solidarity, Fubara said their presence at the Government House was an evidence of  their organic support for his administration.

    He said: “Some days ago, somebody said we are busy renting crowd for thanksgiving. But what I have seen here today, it’s not different from what is happening at those thanksgiving rallies. People are just appreciating God and good governance.

    “For our people, the great and wonderful people of Rivers State, we will continue to lead you with the fear of God.

    “Maturity is not about age; maturity is in the person. It is what defines the character of a person. I choose not to respond to people that I assumed are matured, but are obviously immature in attitude.

    “I will continue to be mature, not minding my age. But I will not, for any reason, allow myself or anybody who is working with me in this administration to be messed with, maltreated or abused in the cause of administering this governance.”

    Fubara said that he was mindful of the legacy he would bequeath after his tenure.

    He added: “It should also be about the lives that have been touched genuinely; about the policies implemented without any inducement to better the lives of the people and the society.”

    The governor urged the people to support his administration, show understanding over actions taken and obey the rules in a peaceful manner.

    Read Also: APC settles for direct primary to pick Ondo Gov candidate

    He said: “When you are doing what is right, I will stand by you. Nobody, whether full or half, is going to intimidate you. Brace up, I say brace up, because the next step, it will be fire for fire in Rivers State. Everything will be implemented.”

    Fubara noted that local government workers have started enjoying N30,000.00 minimum wage, assuring that their with promotion will be implemented this month.

    He also promised to set in motion modalities for the implementation of the Consolidated Salary Scale for Grade Level 17 and regular payment of benefits to the local government retirees.

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Apostle Clifford Paul, told the governor that they organised the ‘Thank-You Rally’ to show appreciation for his love for the workers.

    He said Fubara had changed their fortunes and restored hope when ordered the payment of N30,000.00 minimum wage and lifted the ban on promotion.

    The National Secretary of NULGE,  Ajewole Ayedele, who represented the National President, said workers were impressed by the people-oriented policies.

    Ayedele assured the governor of the union’s support, both at the state and national levels.

    He said: “At our last NEC meeting, the (state chairman) was reporting to us that you have done series of things to local government staff, because from history, Rivers State has been a source of mockery to other states in Nigeria when it comes to welfare of local government staff.

    “When he said it, somebody from the North said, that means this new governor has tried to part away from what he met on ground, because we were asking: how on earth is it possible that workers will be on duty for eight years without promotion?”

  • BREAKING: Don’t dare me, Fubara warns detractors

    BREAKING: Don’t dare me, Fubara warns detractors

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has vowed to surprise anybody, who dares him following the political crisis rocking the State.

    He said he would particularly surprise those, who considered his honest decision to implement the presidential peace pact as a sign of weakness.

    Fubara, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said he had been inundated with comments in the media about the implementation of the peace initiative but chosen to be silent out of maturity and wisdom.

    He emphasised that the peace deal initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and accepted by all stakeholders including him was a political solution to the crisis that engulfed the State on October 30,2023.

    Fubara said he only decided to immediately begin the implementation of the agreement solely because of his respect for President Tinubu.

    But he observed that other political actors had taken his humility and compliance as a sign of weakness.

    The Governor said: “Let me say it here for record purposes: What is happening here in our dear State is somebody who has respect for an elder. 

    “Mr. President invited all the parties to Abuja and came out with a resolution that we should go and implement. That resolution, I am implementing it. It is not a constitutional implementation. It is a political solution to a problem.

    “And I am doing it because of the respect I have for Mr President. But, let me say it here, if that action that I have accepted to take would be seen as a weakness, I will surprise them. I want this message to go to them.”

    Read Also: You can’t impeach Fubara, PDP tells Rivers lawmakers

    Fubara spoke while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) from the 23 local government areas on a solidarity rally at Government House Gate, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    He said their large number was proof of the organic support his administration had continued to enjoy from the people of the state.

    He said: “Some days ago, somebody said we are busy renting crowd for thanksgiving. But what I have seen here today, it’s not different from what is happening at those thanksgiving rallies. People are just appreciating God and good governance.

    “For our people, the great and wonderful people of Rivers State, we will continue to lead you with the fear of God. 

    “Maturity is not about age, maturity is in the person. It is what defines the character of a person. I choose not to respond to people that I assumed are matured, but are obviously immature in attitude. 

    “I will continue to be mature, not minding my age, but I will not, for any reason, allow myself or anybody who is working with me in this administration to be messed with, maltreated or abused in the cause of administering this governance.”

    Fubara said that he was mindful of the legacy he would bequeath after his tenure.

    “It should also be about the lives that have been touched genuinely; about the policies implemented without any inducement to better the lives of the people and the society,” he said.

  • You can’t impeach Fubara, PDP tells Rivers lawmakers

    You can’t impeach Fubara, PDP tells Rivers lawmakers

    Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday told the 27 lawmakers of the House of Assembly that they lacked  the legitimacy to impeach Governor Siminilayi Fubara.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC)  lawmakers had on Saturday  threatened  to  commence a fresh impeachment proceeding against the governor if he continued to allegedly breach  the 1999 Constitution  and the state laws. 

    The lawmakers, whose position statement was read by  Speaker  Martins Amaewhule, said: “They must not forget  that we swore an oath of allegiance to the Constitution to do the needful, including the impeachment of the governor as a last resort. So, if it becomes a last resort,  we will not hesitate to do so because no individual is bigger than Rivers State, including the governor.”

     Accusing  Fubara of failing to honour  all the  truce   agreements reached at a meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, they alleged that he  has been running the state without an   approved budget.

    Tinubu’s intervention in October had saved the governor from being sacked by the legislators, who are loyal to the  immediate past governor of the state and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. 

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    But in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sydney   Gbara, the PDP asked the lawmakers to stop disturbing the peace of the state and allow the court to determine their legitimacy.

    The PDP  urged the lawmakers to address their legitimacy question in the light of Section 109 of the Constitution since they had defected to the APC.

    The party   said  it was a thing of  shame that while other state Houses of Assembly were  making laws for   good governance  , the Pro-Wike   legislators  were making frantic efforts to destroy the state. 

    The statement partly reads: “You have several cases querying your legality in courts, why are you running away from them? You are here constituting public nuisance, engaging in  illegal assembly, taking illegal decisions and making illegal laws, knowing full well that you no longer represent your constituents.

    “If you want to know what Rivers people think about you go to streets and ask questions. You are an illegal assembly and your laws are inconsequential to Rivers people.”

    The PDP added that the founding fathers of the state would be crying that a group of young people had decided to be used as agents of destabilisation of their own state, the government and its people.

    It  warned that posterity would not be kind to them for choosing the path of destruction rather than peace and reconciliation.

    On the  claim  of non- implementation of the eight Point Peace Accord by Rivers  APC Chairman Tony Okocha, the PDP said: “Although we are not holding brief for the state government, as a party, let us  tell Tony Okocha that Governor Siminialayi Fubara has in his desire to further deepen peace in the state implemented the Peace Accord and in accordance with our laws.

    “So, your attempt to try to stampede Governor Fubara into taking unconstitutional actions is like blowing hot air.”