The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Greater

  • Wike dissolves Board of Greater PH Authority

    •Sanitation workers directed to resume work

    The Rivers State Government has dissolved the Board of Directors of Greater Port Harcourt Authority with immediate effect.

    A statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by Emma Okah said the former Administrator of the Authority “is hereby directed to hand over the administration and all property of the authority in her possession to the Secretary of the authority with immediate effect”.

    The Nyesom Wike administration also directed refuse disposal contractors to resume work immediately to ensure that Port Harcourt returns to its former “Garden City” status.

  • Trinity House seeks greater Nigeria

    Trinity House seeks greater Nigeria

    • Honours individuals

    The Trinity House Church Victoria Island Lagos has honoured some distinguished individuals in various fields of endeavours.

    The fourth in the series, the event was tagged Honour Nigeria awards.

    It was in commemoration of the nation’s 54th Independence anniversary.

    Those honoured include: former Ambassador to the United Kindgom, Dr Christopher Kolade for Leadership; the late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh and Mr. Akaniyene Edet for National and Community Service; founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Otunba Subomi Balogun for professionalism and Dame Priscilla Kuye bagged the award for female role model and leadership.

    The Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, in his sermon titled: ‘What makes a nation great’ stressed the need for churches to partner with government in the provision of community services.

    He said any nation that wants to be great must get rid of idolatry, produce transformed leaders and citizens with the right thinking.

    Ighodalo thanked the honourees for their services and urged Nigerians to emulate them.

    “I salute them that even in the face of adversities, they stood strong. Nothing should be too difficult for you to do for others,” he stated.

    Son of the late Dr Adadevoh, Bankole Cardoso, said Nigerians supported  the family’s during their trying period.

    Akanieyene has served in the Police Force for 32 years.

    He controls traffic daily in the sun and rain and was spotted on his duty post that same morning of the award.

  • MKO’s daughter: my dad is greater than Obasanjo

    MKO’s daughter: my dad is greater than Obasanjo

    Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Castello, daughter of democracy martyrs Moshood and Kudirat Abiola, has said her father is greater than former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Responding to a recent statement by Obasanjo, she said her father did not need the former president’s recognition, because “MKO was a greater man”.

    She linked her father’s greatness to his legacies, saying his dedication to the cause of the common man and a better Nigeria has immortalised him in the hearts of many.

    She said: “If he wants to recognise MKO Abiola now it is good for him, but MKO was always the greater man and you cannot recognise somebody that is more than you. MKO Abiola did not require President Obasanjo to recognise him. He required Nigerians to see his heart and they did. That was why they rewarded him with the June 12 election, an election that was so free and fair that no Nigerian leader can claim that kind of mandate till today.”

    Mrs. Abiola-Castello, who is the President of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), spoke at a rally held in memory of her mother, who was killed on June 4, 18 years ago.

    The rally, which was the 18th edition, was organised by the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) and Women Arise.

    Rights activists described MKO and Kudirat as “hero” and “heroine” of democracy, whose lives are beacons of what leadership should be about.

    The activists said Kudirat’s and MKO’s deaths were reminders that all is not yet well with the nation.

    Former Lagos State Governor Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kalu (rtd.) urged leaders to live up to the expectation of the masses, so that the sacrifices of the Abiola family for democracy will not be in vain.

    President of CD and Women Arise Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said the late Kudirat’s courage should be emulated by rights activists.

    She said: “It is sobering for us that as we are here celebrating the 18th anniversary of Alhaja Kudirat’s murder, our country is under terror. School girls have been abducted; Emirs are either being whisked away or killed and bombs now fly like bangers. We need the kind of Kudirat’s courage to confront the evil plaguing our land.”

    The activists decried the government’s attitude towards the plights of the abducted Chibok school girls, saying: “We are not only asking that the girls be rescued, but that they be returned to us alive.”

    Also at the event were the son of the late Kudirat Abiola, Abdul; NADECO chieftain Comrade Fred Agbeigbe; Comrade Mike Falola; Comrade Raji Rasheed; CD Treasurer Comrade Obatunde Adebayo; Comrade Godwin Akangbe; Comrade Ola Baolgun and members of diverse civil rights groups.

     

  • Amaechi: Greater P’Harcourt City project on course

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded by the Greater Port Harcourt City project, describing it as a reality.

    Speaking after receiving the authority’s end-of-term project report (May 2009 – May 2013) in Port Harcourt, the governor commended the Board of Directors for ensuring proper functioning of the organisation and implementation of the projects with a human face.

    Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Mr George Feyii, said: “We are happy for the development so far, and despite all the issues involved, you ensured proper functioning of the authority and implementation of the project which you also made efforts to put in place.

    “We want to emphasiSe the point that, the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority is a reality and there is no doubt that the project is on-going. The project has gone to a point where it is irreversible, even though some investors wonder if the project will go on when Governor Amaechi’s tenure of office comes to an end; there is no such doubt at all.”

    He said the report would be carefully studied and issues of importance would be addressed to ensure the organisation develop.

    He said: “It has been noted and observed that the pace of development in the new city have not been fast as expected because it takes a lot to plan and we appreciate the fact that, so much time has been put into the project to ensure effective planning that will guarantee success.

    “We believe that every necessary step has been taken to ensure that proper planning have been done, and we expect it to be smoother than it has been and we very much appreciate that.”

    The governor said the submission of the three years (2009 – 2011) audited financial report was a clear demonstration of the actualisation of his vision, which places priority on accountability and transparency, in every public institution.

    He urged investors to use the opportunity and engage in Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Rivers State government to drive the new city project to its expected destination.

    Board Chairman of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba recalled the commitment of the governor when he assumed office in October 2007 to renew the urban decay, over stressed and degraded infrastructure, unsightly living conditions, the dysfunctional utilities, traffic congestion, breach of planning regulations and inadequate recreational facilities that were never given concrete measures.

    “As the pioneer Board of the new authority, we stated everything from scratch, putting in place the necessary institutional framework for effective take-off and smooth running of the authority, while at the same time ensuring that adequate planning and design of the infrastructural facilities to international standards become our primary focus,” Alabraba said.